Moore County, North Carolina Issued BDO Zone 'A' Rating for Woody Biomass
Moore County, North Carolina Issued BDO Zone 'A' Rating for Woody Biomass
– ‘A’ Rating Validates Moore County’s Strategic Advantage for Biomass Development –
September 29, 2026 – Moore County Economic Development Partnership, Ecostrat and the BDO Zone Initiative are pleased to announce the issuance of a BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Moore County, North Carolina. The BDO Zone is rated for 925,000 bone dry tons per year of low-risk woody biomass and spans a 75-mile drive radius from its central point in Robbins, NC.
Moore County’s ‘A’ rating denotes high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. The region’s forest base is sustainably managed, while roughly 87% of standing volume sits on privately owned forestland, supporting stable procurement. A well-established loblolly pine base underpins a strong pulpwood supply, and a diversified feedstock mix of pulpwood, forest residues, and sawmill residues gives a new bio-project a sizable foundation. This strength is matched by a well-positioned anchor site — the Iron Horse Industrial Park, a 73-acre heavy-industrial parcel on NC 211 East in Aberdeen just 3.3 miles from US-1, with electric, natural gas, water, wastewater, and short-line rail service already in place. I-95 corridor connectivity and integration with regional forestry operations and mill networks coupled with the funded widening of NC Highway 211 position Moore County as a prime location for biobased industrial development.
Natalie Hawkins, President, Moore County Economic Development Partnership, stated, “We’re honored that Moore County is the first community in North Carolina to receive a BDO Zone Rating. Being first in the state is a distinction we don’t take lightly, and it puts Moore County at the forefront of North Carolina’s growing bioeconomy. This rating confirms what we’ve long known: Moore County has the feedstock, the infrastructure, and the site readiness to support serious biobased investment. The Iron Horse Industrial Park is primed for development, and we see this rating as a strong signal to developers and investors evaluating low-risk, high-viability locations in the Sandhills region.”
Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, stated, “What stands out about Moore County is the depth and diversity of the supply; pulpwood, forest residues, and sawmill residues all in play, backed by a forest base that’s growing faster than it’s being harvested. Paired with a rail-served site on NC 211 and just several minutes from US-1, this is a compelling location for any developer’s next project.”
To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Moore County, NC, please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.
BDO Zone Project Development Support:
About The BDO Zone Initiative
The Biofuel Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone Initiative certifies ‘regional readiness’ for bio-manufacturing, creates global connections and ignites an influx of new energy opportunities for farmers, economic developers, and rural businesses. A BDO Zone rating is an internationally recognized, standards-based technical risk assessment of a region’s feedstock, supply chain, and infrastructure risk with respect to the development potential for new biofuel plants. BDO Zone ratings are site location bullseyes for bio-project development. Investment grade ratings are force-multipliers for attracting new manufacturing plants to the areas where they are most likely to succeed, drive investment and create jobs.
For more information on the BDO Zone Initiative, contact info@bdozone.org. To view all BDO Zone ratings, visit www.bdozone.org. Check out the BDO Zone LinkedIn page for news and updates.
Ecostrat is the North American leader in biomass due diligence for biofuels, renewable chemicals, biogas, and bio-product project development and finance. Jordan Solomon is Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative and President of Ecostrat (www.ecostrat.com). He can be reached at jordan.solomon@ecostrat.com.