Preston County, West Virginia

The Preston County, West Virginia BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.

Rating Issue Date: June 26, 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.

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BDO Zone RatingA

Rating

Certified supply

443,200 bdt/yr

Feedstock

Woody Biomass

Rated

Jun 2026

Preston County, WV, BDO Zone Overview

Feedstock quantities are expressed in bone-dry tons per year (bdt/yr), while feedstock costs are expressed in United States dollars (USD). Maximum transport distance is based on a 75-mile driving distance from the center point (Kingwood, WV).

BDO Zone Assets

Approximately 443,200 bone-dry tons per year of pulpwood and forest residue are available for new biomass projects.
Sustainable forestry practices ensure that the annual timber growth exceeds removals, leaving ample room for economic growth.
The current competitor demand does not constrain access to the rated quantities of pulpwood and forest residues.

BDO Zone Liabilities

The biomass harvesting and transportation capacity is currently not sufficient to support a large project without additional investments.
Constrained transportation efficiencies due to mountainous haul conditions and structurally deficient bridges.
The weakening of traditional pulp and timber hardwood markets creates structural risk.
The region faces an aging logging workforce, reduced logging capacity following market contraction, and competition for operators from other industries.

Talk to us about Preston County, WV See all rated regions →

BDO Zone, 25 mi

Supply Zone, 75 mi

Competition Zone, 150 mi

Infrastructure

Former TAZ Sawmill Site (Bruceton Mills, WV)

Location: 1321 Casteel Road, Bruceton Mills, Preston County, West Virginia
Site Size: 42 acres (Zoning: no zoning, industrial-use; flat topography; pricing $45,000/acre). The parcel is owned by the Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA) and sits just 1.4 miles from Interstate 68.
Overview: a Phase II ESA confirmed no significant subsurface contamination, and the site’s location outside the floodplain reduces permitting complexity. Electric service is available at the site boundary, and both natural gas and sanitary sewer are being extended through funded infrastructure projects.
Infrastructure:
- Electric: First Energy — 12-inch, 12.47 kV distribution circuit available on the site. (Contact: Jacob Keeney, Economic Development Consultant, First Energy, 304-479-4951, jkeeney@firstenergycorp.com)
- Natural Gas: not currently available; a funded project to extend gas to the site is pending, resulting in a 4-inch line at 75 psi with a capacity of 58 MCF/hr, provided by WV Pipeline LLC (Enmark Energy). (Contact: Connell Rader, President, Enmark Energy, 601-898-2434 x17, crader@enmarkenergy.com)
- Water: Preston County PSD #4 — 6-inch line with a total excess capacity of 20,000 GPD. (Contact: Richard Gaines, Engineer, Stantec, 304-816-5190, richard.gaines@stantec.com)
- Wastewater: no line currently available; a funded project to extend sewer to the site is in design, resulting in an 8-inch line with a total excess capacity of 50,000 GPD. (Contact: Travis Adams, Engineer, CEC, 304-848-7163, twadams@cecinc.com)
- Fiber/Telecom: Prodigi — cellular service and fiber running directly to the site, with existing capacity of 10 Gbps and additional capacity potentially available. (Contact: Tim Wotring, President, Prodigi, 304-777-4444, timw@digitalconnections.net)
Transportation Access:
- Located directly on Casteel Road, only 1.4 miles from Interstate 68 via Exit 29.
- No rail spur at the site boundary; the closest rail service is 39 miles away.
- Morgantown Municipal Airport (Walter L. Bill Hart Field) is approximately 30 miles west and serves general aviation with limited commercial connections.
- Pittsburgh International Airport, a major commercial hub, is approximately 80 miles north via I-68 and I-79.
- No navigable waterway access; the site is dependent on truck transport.
Site Contacts:
- Roberta Baylor, Preston County EDA, 304-329-2299, robertabaylor@hotmail.com

Northpointe Business & Industry Park — Lot 10 (Bruceton Mills, WV)

Location: Progress Drive, Bruceton Mills, Preston County, WV 26525 (39.660266, -79.521061)
Site Size: 7.447 acres (Zoning: no zoning in unincorporated Preston County, with restrictive covenants limiting the site to industrial and/or warehousing/distribution use; pricing $25,000/acre). Greenspace in current and former use, within an industrial park and surrounded by industrial uses. Not in a 100-year flood plain, with no structures affecting constructability.
Owned by the Preston County EDA, publicly held, for sale and the owner is motivated to sell. Available since January 2005; one third of mineral rights convey with the site.
Infrastructure:
- Electric: First Energy — 12-inch, 12.47 kV distribution circuit to the site boundaries. (Contact: Jacob Keeney, Economic Development Consultant, 304-479-4951, jkeeney@firstenergycorp.com)
- Natural Gas: not yet at the site boundary — 700 feet away, with distribution-level capacity of 58 MCF/hr. Provided by WV Pipeline LLC. (Contact: Connell Rader, President, Enmark Energy, 601-898-2434 x17, crader@enmarkenergy.com)
- Water: Preston County PSD #4 — 8-inch line to the site boundaries; 20,000 GPD total capacity, all of it excess. (Contact: Richard Gaines, Engineer, Stantec, 304-816-5190, richard.gaines@stantec.com)
- Wastewater: Preston County Sewer PSD — 8-inch line to the site boundaries; 50,000 GPD total capacity, all of it excess. (Contact: Travis Adams, Engineer, CEC, 304-848-7163, twadams@cecinc.com)
- Fiber/Telecom: Prodigi — fibre to the site boundaries with 10 Gbps existing capacity and additional capacity potentially available; cellular service at the site. (Contact: Tim Wotring, President, 304-777-4444, timw@digitalconnections.net)
Transportation Access:
- 0.9 miles to I-68 Exit 29; one road accesses the site, with industrial-quality truck routes free from weight or height restrictions.
- No rail service to the site boundaries; nearest rail is 35 miles away and no spur can be built to the site.
- 4 miles from the nearest subdivision of single-family homes; 7.4 miles from schools and 7.2 miles from a public park.
Site Contacts:
- Roberta Baylor, Executive Director, Preston County EDA, 304-329-2299, robertabaylor@hotmail.com

Valley Industrial Park (Masontown, WV)

Location: VIP Drive, Masontown, Preston County, WV 26542 (39.524723, -79.792863)
Site Size: 61 acres total, 50 acres contiguous developable (Zoning: no zoning outside municipalities in Preston County; pricing $60,000/acre). Green space in current use, agricultural in former use, surrounded by industrial uses. Not in a 100-year flood plain.
Privately owned by Coaltrain Corporation, for sale and the owner is motivated to sell. Available since January 2010; no mineral rights convey with the site. Some existing structures on the site affect constructability.
Infrastructure:
- Electric: First Energy — two 12-inch, 12.47 kV distribution circuits to the site boundaries. (Contact: Jacob Keeney, Economic Development Consultant, 304-479-4951, jkeeney@firstenergycorp.com)
- Natural Gas: Cardinal National Gas Company (Northern Division) — 3-inch line to the site boundaries with 30 MCF/hr distribution capacity. (Contact: Tammy Zebley, 304-341-5366, tzebley@utilitypipelineltd.com)
- Water: Preston County PSD #1 — 8-inch line to the site boundaries; 150,000 GPD total capacity with 10,000 GPD excess. (Contact: Cullin Cutright, Engineer, The Thrasher Group, 304-205-8804, ccutright@thethrashergroup.com)
- Wastewater: Masontown/Reedsville Sewer — 8-inch line to the site boundaries; 200,000 GPD total capacity with 15,000 GPD excess. (Contact: Jarod Ringer, Engineer, CEC, 304-848-7157, jringer@cecinc.com)
- Fiber/Telecom: Prodigi — fibre to the site boundaries with 10 Gbps existing capacity and additional capacity potentially available; cellular service at the site. (Contact: Tim Wotring, President, 304-777-4444, timw@digitalconnections.net)
Transportation Access:
- 12 miles to I-68 Exit 4; one road accesses the site, with industrial-quality truck routes free from weight or height restrictions.
- No rail service to the site boundaries; nearest rail is 20 miles away and no spur can be built to the site.
- 0.6 miles from the nearest subdivision of single-family homes; 2.3 miles from schools and 1.2 miles from a public park.
Site Contacts:
- Roberta Baylor, Executive Director, Preston County EDA, 304-329-2299, robertabaylor@hotmail.com
- Glenn Larew, Owner, Coaltrain Corporation, 304-288-3259, glarew407@aol.com

Local Grants and Incentives

Preston County Economic Development Authority

The PCEDA owns the rated Former TAZ Sawmill Site and is the first point of contact for a project in the BDO Zone, coordinating site access, the funded gas and sewer extensions, and introductions to the state programs below.

West Virginia Business Incentives

The West Virginia Division of Economic Development’s full catalogue of tax credits and financing programs designed to reduce startup and operating costs for new and expanding businesses.

Manufacturing Investment Credit

A credit against up to 60% of corporate net income tax and business franchise tax based on qualified investment in eligible manufacturing property, with no new job creation required. A companion Manufacturing Inventory Credit offsets corporate net income tax by the property tax paid on raw materials, goods in process and finished manufacturing inventory.

Economic Opportunity Tax Credit

For qualified companies creating at least 20 new jobs within specified time limits — 10 jobs in the case of a qualified small business — as a result of a business expansion project, this credit can offset up to 80% of specified business taxes for a period of up to 13 years.