Tahoe Central Sierra Biomass Aggregation Pilot Project boosts BDO Zones in the region
In California, Ecostrat and the BDO Zone Initiative said that under the Tahoe Central Sierra Biomass Aggregation Pilot Project, Placer County, Nevada County, and El Dorado County have each been awarded investment-grade BDO Zone “A” Ratings for Woody Biomass, signaling exceptional regional readiness for bio-based manufacturing and long-term biomass utilization.
The ratings were conducted by Ecostrat under California’s Forest Residual Aggregation Market Enhancement (CalFRAME) program, funded by the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), with participation from El Dorado County supported by a USDA Rural Business Development Grant.
After evaluating more than 75 technical and economic risk criteria, all three counties achieved an investment-grade BDO Zone “A” Rating. Collectively, the three BDO Zones represent over 273,800 bone dry tonnes per year of low-risk woody biomass supply, with up to three times that volume potentially available under higher-risk recovery scenarios. The region benefits from minimal competition from pulp and paper mills, strong community and political support for biomass utilization, and existing infrastructure and industrial sites well positioned for development, validating the Tahoe Central Sierra region as a premier location for new bio-based manufacturing investment.
Category: Fuels
