Coconino County, Arizona BDO Zone Issued ‘A’ Rating for Woody Biomass

(Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Initiative) ‘A’ rating supports development of industry and forest restoration Initiatives – Coconino County and Ecostrat are pleased to announce a new Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone designation for woody biomass. Extending a 75-mile drive distance centered in Bellemont, AZ, it is the first BDO Zone ‘A’ rating in Arizona for Woodland Biomass, Forest and Sawmill Residuals.

The Coconino County BDO Zone, rated ‘A’ for ‘high quality’ feedstock supply chains and robust infrastructure, offers a secure annual supply of 100,000 bone dry tons of wood fiber. Sourced from planned ecological restoration and fire management operations, low-risk feedstock availability, absence of local competition for wood fiber, combined with a dedicated local network of organizations committed to biomass supply chain development makes it an optimal site location for medium-scale biobased projects.

“This BDO Zone ‘A’ rating for Coconino County aptly reflects both the material and political conditions of our region,” said Jay Smith, Coconino County Forest Restoration Director. “We have a vast forest in need of restoration and the urgent removal of biomass to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Our community is motivated to see this work happen immediately.”

Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative added, “The BDO Zone Rating not only opens doors to new markets for underutilized wood fiber, rejuvenating the state’s forestry industry, but also plays a vital role in concurrently mitigating wildfire risk, supporting Coconino County’s proactive approach to forest restoration and wildfire management.”

To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Coconino County, Arizona please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.

Situated in northern Arizona, Coconino County encompasses significant portions of four National Forests—Coconino, Kaibab, Apache-Sitgreaves, and Prescott—alongside state and private ranch lands. Notably, it is home to the world’s largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest, in addition to mixed conifer and pinyon-juniper woodlands. A considerable land segment is earmarked for treatment under the U.S. Forest Service’s Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI), highlighting the county’s commitment to conservation and sustainable forest management.

Three critical interstate travel corridors—Interstate 17, Interstate 40, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad—converge at the county seat of Flagstaff, situated 12 miles east of the center of the BDO Zone. A substantial sawmill, currently under construction with a projected capacity of 150 million board feet per year, is poised to become a pivotal asset for bio-products within the region. Moreover, the absence of local competition for forest and sawmill residues and woodland biomass presents a strategic advantage.

The BDO Zone Initiative certifies regional readiness for bio-based manufacturing, creates global connections with project developers, and ignites an influx of clean energy opportunities.

A BDO Zone rating is an internationally recognized standards-based technical risk assessment of biomass feedstock, supply chain, and infrastructure risk with respect to the development potential of new biofuel, renewable chemical, biogas, and bioproduct plants. Investment grade ratings attract new bio-based manufacturing plants to the areas where they are most likely to succeed– and create jobs.

For more information on the BDO Zone Initiative, please contact info@bdozone.org. To view all current and upcoming BDO Zone designations, visit www.bdozone.org or check out the BDO Zone LinkedIn page for all news and updates.

About Ecostrat

Ecostrat’s Advisory Group combines the BSCR Standards with powerful predictive analytics to understand and minimize supply chain risk. It’s Biomass Supply Group has 25 years of experience in sourcing and supplying more than 5 million tons of biomass feedstock for bioenergy, biofuel, and biochemical projects across North America.