Preston County, West Virginia Issued BDO Zone 'A' Rating for Woody Biomass
Preston County, West Virginia Issued BDO Zone 'A' Rating for Woody Biomass
– ‘A’ Rating Signals Low-Risk Woody Biomass Supply for Biobased Developers –
Aug 5, 2026 – Preston County Economic Development Authority, Ecostrat and the BDO Zone Initiative are pleased to announce the issue of a BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Preston County, West Virginia. The BDO Zone is rated for 443,200 bone dry tons per year of low-risk woody biomass and spans a 75-mile drive radius from its central point in Kingwood, WV.
Preston County’s ‘A’ rating denotes high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. Sustainable forestry practices ensure that annual timber growth exceeds removals, leaving ample room for economic growth, while current competitor demand does not constrain access to the rated quantities of pulpwood and forest residues. This feedstock strength is matched by a well-positioned anchor site — the Former TAZ Sawmill Site, a 42-acre industrially-designated parcel just 1.4 miles from Interstate 68, with electric service at the boundary and natural gas and sewer being extended through funded projects. Competitive labor costs and proximity to West Virginia University in Morgantown round out the profile, positioning Preston County as a prime location for biobased industrial development.
Roberta “Robbie” Baylor, Executive Director, Preston County Economic Development Authority, stated, “Preston County has the feedstock, the workforce, and the site-ready infrastructure to support serious biobased investment. This ‘A’ rating reflects the strength of our working forests and the readiness of the TAZ Sawmill Site, and we see it as a meaningful signal to developers and investors looking for a low-risk, high-viability location in the Mid-Atlantic.”
Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, stated, “Preston County’s deep, sustainably managed woody biomass supply, where growth outpaces removals, combined with minimal competition for pulpwood and forest residues and a shovel-ready industrial site minutes from Interstate 68, makes for a compelling profile for any biobased developer evaluating where to put their next project.”
To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Preston County, WV, 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.