Sac County, Iowa
The Sac County, Iowa BDO Zone for Corn Stover is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: November 25, 2024.
'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.
Sac County, IA holds an investment-grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Corn stover. Issued in Nov 2024, the rating certifies approximately 1,648,000 gt/yr of reliable, low-risk biomass feedstock available within a 75-mile driving distance from the center point (Sac City, IA).
A ‘A’ rating is an investment grade rating, signalling a reliable, low-risk feedstock supply. It signals to developers, lenders, and investors that Sac County, IA’s feedstock supply has undergone rigorous, standardized due diligence across 100+ risk indicators, the same framework applied to every BDO Zone across North America.
Every BDO Zone Rating assesses a region across three dimensions, mapped as expanding radii around a candidate site.
- Feedstock surplus: Data indicating at least 50,000 tonnes per year of excess feedstock available to support typical intake of new biofuels manufacturing plants.
- Supply chain strength: Evidence supporting long-term commitment to supply both quantity and quality by local farmers, forestry companies, food waste generators, haulers and municipalities.
- Sound infrastructure: Suitable transportation, logistic, operating and supporting infrastructure to meet the requirements for new facility operations.
Assets & liabilities
- High corn stover availability due to corn yield over 190 bushels per acre
- Competition for corn stover is minimal
- Sac County offers a greenfield site in an industrial park with full utility access and close proximity to major highways
- Current corn stover equipment needs upgrades or custom baling operations to meet large-scale project demands
- Past failed projects with corn stover can hinder farmer participation and will require proactive engagement
- Inclement weather can narrow the time frame for efficient bale production and collection
Infrastructure & sites
- Convenient highway access for supply chain efficiency
- Electrical service with natural gas and water connections within two miles
- Lower cost of living enhances business appeal
- Highway 20 proximity
- I-35 (75 miles away)
- Sac City Municipal Airport (4 miles)
- Fort Dodge Regional Airport (49 miles)
- All utilities extend to site
- Nearest substation 6 miles
- Served by kV line
- Northwest corner, industrial zoning
- 12-inch water main (70 psi)
- 2-inch natural gas line (50 psi)
- 8-inch sanitary sewer (150 GPM capacity)
- 3-phase electricity: 120/208, 120/240, 277/480 volts
- Municipal utilities; MidAmerican Energy service
Local grants & incentives
- High Quality Jobs
- New Jobs Tax Credit
- New Market Tax Credit (unavailable for Sac City Industrial Park)
- Commercial Tax Abatement
- Industrial Tax Abatement (Year 1: 75%, Year 2: 60%, Year 3: 45%, Year 4: 30%, Year 5: 15%)
- Tax Increment Financing (optional, per project approval)
Contacts
