Plumas County, California
The Plumas County, California BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: May 21, 2026.
‘A’ ratings denote high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. Capacity to support new biobased plant operations is considered strong.
Plumas County, CA, BDO Zone Overview
Feedstock quantities are expressed in bone dry tons per year (bdt/yr), while feedstock costs are expressed in USD ($). Maximum transport distance is based on a 75-mile driving distance from Taylorsville, CA.
BDO Zone Assets
- 255,000 bdt/year of low-risk biomass supply from pulpwood and forest residues, with three times as much potentially available at higher risk.
- Annual net growth exceeds removals, indicating harvest levels within a sustainable range.
- The region already has the logging, grinding, and hauling capacity needed to support the rated quantities.
- Existing competitors primarily consume sawmill residues rather than the rated pulpwood and forest residue streams.
BDO Zone Liabilities
- Wildfires pose a great threat to long-term feedstock continuity and operable timberland.
- Drought, temperature change, and related disturbance could reduce future productivity and access.
- Much of the timber base is publicly owned, creating exposure to policy and permitting changes.
- Steep terrain, tight roads, and seasonal restrictions can increase hauling difficulty and delivered cost.
- No direct natural gas and municipal sewer lines present.
- Access to workforce and housing for workforce can present a challenge.
Infrastructure
- Location: 15960 CA-89, Crescent Mills, CA 95934; 377 ft from CA-89 (a two-lane highway).
- Site Overview: Rail-served wood utilization campus with on-site PG&E substation; well-suited for biomass and bio-based manufacturing.
- Infrastructure:
- Electric: PG&E — three-phase power, 2.4 MW industrial capacity; substation directly on site (Contact: David Barrios, D2Bb@pge.com).
- Natural Gas: Not available.
- Water: Indian Valley Community Services District; 3″ service branching off a 6″ main (Contact: Charles Slagter, Operations Manager, cslagter@indianvalleycsd.com).
- Wastewater: Not available.
- Telecommunications: Not on site; lines located immediately adjacent.
- Transportation Access:
- CA-89 (377 ft); no interstate access — nearest freeway connections via CA-70 or US-395.
- BNSF Railway directly adjacent, with a short industrial rail spur on site.
- Quincy airport (16.7 miles); Reno-Tahoe International Airport (100 miles).
- Setting: Rail-adjacent industrial site with strong on-site power; limited utility connections (no gas or wastewater).
- Site Contacts:
- Laurel Hicke, Sierra Institute for Community & Environment, 530-284-1022 x 601, lhicke@sierrainstitute.us
- Location: 893 Wolf Creek Rd, Greenville, CA.
- Site Size: 20 acres usable (Zoning: Heavy Industrial).
- Availability: Leveled lot with road base installed; fully fenced and secure; multiple outbuildings and an on-site pond.
- Overview: Secure, development-ready heavy industrial site with three-phase power and fiber connectivity.
- Infrastructure:
- Electric: PG&E — three-phase power (Contact: David Barrios, D2Bb@pge.com).
- Natural Gas: Not specified.
- Water: Indian Valley Community Services District.
- Wastewater: Not currently connected; easily connectable to CSD municipal sewer.
- Fiber: Frontier Communications fiber optic.
- Transportation Access:
- Highway 89 access via Wolf Creek Rd, 1.2 miles to the south.
- BNSF main line 632 ft to the west; no current spur lines.
- Quincy airport (17 miles); Reno-Tahoe International Airport (100 miles).
- Setting: Fenced, secured industrial site with existing site prep and strong power/fiber infrastructure.
- Site Contacts:
- Chris Myers, Owner, (530) 593-9798
- Location: 1233 Sloat Rd, Sloat, CA.
- Site Size: Heavy Industrial zoning.
- Availability: Rail access directly across the street from the site.
- Overview: Rail-adjacent heavy industrial site well-positioned for feedstock logistics.
- Infrastructure:
- Electric: Unknown.
- Natural Gas: None.
- Water: Unknown.
- Wastewater: Unknown.
- Transportation Access:
- Union Pacific main line directly across the street; industrial spur to the southwest (spur not part of the parcel).
- Highway 70 access via a 1.3-mile drive north on Sloat Rd.
- Quincy airport (16.8 miles); Reno-Tahoe International Airport (74.7 miles).
- Setting: Rail-served industrial parcel with excellent mainline access; utility availability not yet confirmed.
- Site Contacts:
- Gary Blanc, (530) 378-8149 (Owner: Sierra Pacific Industries)
Local Grants and Incentives
BioRAM (Bioenergy Renewable Auction Mechanism)A California program that directs the state’s major utilities to buy electricity from bioenergy facilities using forest fuel from High Hazard Zones (HHZ). Projects that source HHZ material can qualify for premium pricing, making it a valuable pathway for turning wildfire-risk biomass into revenue. (Note: the related BioMAT feed-in tariff closed to new projects at the end of 2025.)
RES-BCT (Renewable Energy Self-Generation Bill Credit Transfer)A tariff that lets local governments, tribal governments, school districts, and campuses generate renewable electricity—including biomass—at one site and apply the bill credits to their other government-owned accounts. Ideal for public agencies looking to offset energy costs across multiple facilities.
Co-Digestion Grant ProgramA California Climate Investments program administered by CalRecycle that funds the design and construction of food-waste co-digestion systems at publicly owned wastewater treatment plants, converting organic waste into biogas and renewable energy. Grant cycles open periodically—check CalRecycle for the next Notice of Funds Available.
Contact Information
