Allegany County in New York has received an ‘A’ rating under the Biofuel Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone programme for its woody biomass supply and supporting infrastructure, becoming the first area in New York to receive the designation, Bioenergy Insight reported.
The rating confirms the availability of about 300,000 bone-dry tonnes of low-risk woody biomass each year within a 75-mile driving distance of Belmont, New York.
The top rating reflects strong prospects for a reliable supply of biomass and suitable infrastructure, with a low risk of supply problems. The area has large supplies of pulpwood and forest residues, supported by enough logging and transport capacity to supply commercial-scale biofuel and bioproduct facilities.
The region also has access to the 22-acre Wellsville Business Park, a general industrial site about 10 miles from Interstate 86. The park has municipal electricity, natural gas and water services.
The site also has high-capacity electrical transformers left from its previous use as a heavy industrial steam turbine testing facility. It is connected directly to rail services operated by the Western New York and Pennsylvania Railroad, providing access to Class I rail operators Norfolk Southern and CSX.
The BDO Zone programme provides a standardised assessment of biomass supplies, transport networks and infrastructure to determine the risks and potential for developing new biofuel plants.
Its investment-grade ratings are intended to help developers identify locations where biomass projects are more likely to succeed and attract investment in new facilities.
Craig Clark, executive director of the Allegany County Industrial Development Agency, said the rating confirmed the region’s ability to provide raw materials, suitable industrial sites and a skilled workforce for large biobased projects.
He said the combination of managed forests and existing infrastructure at Wellsville Business Park could allow developers to move projects forward more quickly and with lower risks.
Jordan Solomon, chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, said the area’s sustainably managed hardwood resources, combined with an existing industrial site with electricity, water and rail access, provided the type of infrastructure developers look for when choosing locations for biobased facilities.
The rating could help Allegany County attract investments in biomass-based energy, chemicals and other bioproducts. It also provides a signal to farmers, local economic development agencies and rural businesses looking for opportunities linked to the growing biobased industry.
The assessment was carried out by Ecostrat, a North American company specialising in biomass due diligence for biofuel and bioproduct projects. The BDO Zone Initiative has issued several investment-grade ratings across regions in North America.
