Tazewell, Virginia
The Tazewell, Virginia BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.
Rating Issue Date: August 24, 2023.
'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.
Tazewell, VA holds an investment-grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Forest residuals, Sawmill residuals, Pulpwood, Urban wood waste. Issued in Aug 2023, the rating certifies approximately 625,000 gt/yr of reliable, low-risk biomass feedstock available within a 75-mile driving distance from the center point (Tazewell, VA).
A ‘A’ rating is an investment grade rating, signalling a reliable, low-risk feedstock supply. It signals to developers, lenders, and investors that Tazewell, VA’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
- 625,000 gt/yr of woody biomass potentially available at low-risk
- Competition for biomass in the region is currently limited
- Existing terminal chipping infrastructure and workforce experience could be leveraged
- 180-acre development site with flexible zoning, natural gas access, close to I-77
- Three coal stations within 150 miles eligible for indefinite biomass co-firing
- Logging/milling capacity relatively low, weakened by paper mill closures
- Only seven sawmills operate in supply basin, limiting sawmill residuals
- Supply chain scale-up necessary to meet rated quantity of Roundwood
Infrastructure & sites
- 680-acre mixed-use development for research, technology, advanced manufacturing
- 180 acres for Business Park with pre-graded sites (3–12 acres)
- 40,000 SF speculative building available
- Located on US 460, 15-mile radius to I-77
- 1.5 hours from Virginia Tech
- Appalachian Power, Point Broadband, Tazewell County Public Service Authority
- Various connectivity options (basic to high bandwidth)
- Educated workforce and higher education training options
- Outdoor recreation and community-focused environment
Local grants & incentives
- Virginia Enterprise Zone (VEZ) program
- Federal Opportunity Zones: 51185020200 and 51185020600
- USDA Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG)
Contacts
