San Juan County, Utah
The San Juan County, Utah BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘BB’.
Rating Issue Date: November 25, 2024.
'BB' ratings indicate moderate prospects for Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure (FS&I) with an elevated vulnerability to risk over time, particularly in the event of adverse business or economic conditions.
San Juan County, UT holds an investment-grade BDO Zone ‘BB’ Rating for Forest residuals, Pulpwood. Issued in Nov 2024, the rating certifies approximately 20,000 gt/yr of reliable, low-risk biomass feedstock available within a 75-mile driving distance from the centre point (Monticello, UT).
A ‘BB’ rating is a speculative grade rating, signalling a viable feedstock supply with elevated risk. It signals to developers, lenders, and investors that San Juan County, UT’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
- Sufficient logging capacity to ensure recovery of the rated quantities.
- Regional forest residue supply experience.
- Limited current competition for roundwood and forest residue sourced from the Manti-La Sal National Forest in Utah.
- Three project development sites ranging in size from 3 to 20 acres with streamlined permitting and access to inexpensive utilities.
- Significant wood supply uncertainty from the Manti-La Sal National Forest.
- Limited forested area is susceptible to wildfire and insect infestation over the long term.
- Possible future competition for roundwood supplies with two large wood processing facilities in Colorado.
- Bio-projects located in San Juan County, UT, would have to source feedstock from distances of over 65 miles, increasing susceptibility to transportation cost volatility.
Infrastructure & sites
- 28 acres total across two leveled, greenfield parcels (20 ac / 8 ac)
- Zoned M-Industrial, county-owned, build-ready
- Located 0.8 mi east of Hwy 191 & 0.25 mi north of Hwy 491
- Access to regional highway network and rail (<2 miles to line)
- 3 miles from Monticello Municipal Airport, 55 miles to Moab Airport (commercial service)
- Electricity: 15 kV capacity via Empire Electric Co-op (substation adjacent)
- Natural Gas: 4" main 0.4 miles east, 26" pipeline 11 miles north
- Water & Wastewater: Municipal service (1M gal/day capacity)
- Telecom: Fiber & wireless via Hughesnet
- No lease option; sites may be combined or acquired separately
- 3-acre city-owned industrial parcel, leveled and build-ready
- Zoned M-Industrial, no structures on site
- Located 1.6 mi east of Hwy 191 & 0.25 mi south of Hwy 491
- Adjacent to major power substation; all utilities to site
- Less than 2 miles from rail access; 3 miles to Monticello Airport
- 55 miles to Moab Commercial Airport (direct flights to Denver & Phoenix)
- Electricity: 15 kV capacity via Empire Electric Co-op
- Natural Gas: 4" main 0.4 miles east, 26" pipeline 11 miles north
- Water & Wastewater: Municipal infrastructure (1M gal/day capacity)
- Telecom: Hughesnet fiber and wireless available
- No lease option available
Local grants & incentives
- Utah Rural County Grant Program (RCGP)
- Custom Fit Training Program (via Utah State University)
- Collaboration with Utah Inland Port Authority
- USDA Business & Industry (B&I) Loan Guarantee Program
- EDA Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance
- DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO)
Contacts
