Sarnia-Lambton, Ontario Issued BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Corn Stover

September 12, 2023

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(Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Initiative) nvestment Grade Rating to Catalyze Regional Biobased Project Development -- The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC), and Ecostrat are pleased to announce the issue of an investment grade Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone rating for corn stover for Sarnia-Lambton.

The Sarnia-Lambton BDO Zone is ‘A’, or “high quality”, based on reliable generation of biomass, lack of large-scale competition for feedstock, and access to larger supply basins at marginal transportation cost increases. The Sarnia-Lambton BDO Zone extends 140km drive-distance from Sarnia, and is rated for 190,000 oven-dried metric tons per year of corn stover.

The Sarnia-Lambton BDO Zone has achieved a significant milestone by receiving the first BDO rating for corn stover biomass; it is also the first rating in the province of Ontario. The ‘A’ rating highlights the importance of the Sarnia-Lambton BDO Zone and paves the way for future advancements and growth in utilizing corn stover for decarbonization, farm stability and job creation in the province.

Shauna Carr, Economic Development Officer for the Chemistry, Energy, and Agriculture Sectors at the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, stated: “Sarnia-Lambton is the perfect blend of industry, agriculture, and a willing host community, making it an ideal environment to support the success of bio-manufacturing facilities. The region offers vast open spaces suitable for accommodating large facilities, as well as smaller plug-and-play ready sites, catering to companies at any stage of development. We prioritize collaborative development efforts, with a proven track record of working together to foster and support the success of new and emerging technologies.”

Meaghan Seagrave, Executive Director of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) stated: “Sarnia-Lambton’s rich industrial history, combined with its extensive agricultural assets, positions it as the perfect region for establishing industrial biorefining operations. The area’s strategic proximity to major centers, along with access to highly skilled talent and research assets, further solidifies its status as Canada’s largest hybrid-chemistry cluster.

Embracing the concept of hybrid-chemistry is crucial in developing solutions to address pressing global challenges such as climate change, peak oil, energy security, safe water, and the sustainable use and recovery of scarce natural resources and precious metals. The increasing global demand for environmentally friendly and safer products, compared to conventional alternatives, presents significant opportunities to create thousands of new jobs and drive immense economic growth in this region.

Having now achieved an ‘A’ rating, project developers worldwide now recognize what we have long known: that Sarnia-Lambton plays a central role in supporting the decarbonization efforts of industries not only in Canada but also across the globe.”

Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative added: “We are excited about the issue of an ‘A’ rating for a substantial quantity of corn stover in Sarnia-Lambton County. An investment-grade BDO Zone rating for close to 200,000 tons of stover should function as a bullseye for a multitude of project development companies globally.

This milestone achievement cements the region’s leadership in the bio-based industry and helps set the stage for a prosperous and sustainable future by leveraging local biomass resources.”

To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Sarnia-Lambton please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.

About Sarnia-Lambton County

Sarnia-Lambton County is a thriving region that has evolved into a prominent engineering, research, development, and product commercialization center for the petrochemical and refining industries. Leveraging its existing knowledge and infrastructure, the region is now growing as a bioindustrial hub, focusing on bioproducts, sustainable energy technologies, and value-added agricultural products.

The powerful combination of Bioindustrial Innovation Canada, world-class college research facilities at Lambton College, and the Western Sarnia-Lambton Research Park offers businesses unparalleled access to high-caliber university and college research and development facilities, showcasing a strong commitment to advancing research and development in the region. Sustainable chemistry companies like LCY Biosciences, Woodland Biofuels, Origin Materials, and Suncor have been drawn to the region, establishing manufacturing or pilot plants, benefiting from the synergies offered by the Sarnia-Lambton Hybrid Chemistry Cluster.

Strategically located in the Great Lakes Industrial Corridor marketplace, Sarnia-Lambton enjoys excellent transportation connectivity via major highway, rail, water, and air corridors, providing businesses convenient access to markets. The region’s skilled workforce possesses internationally recognized expertise in environmental technology, process engineering, metal fabrication, and more, playing a crucial role in driving innovation and sustainability across industries.

With a growing Biohybrid Chemistry Cluster and status as an official Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Point, Sarnia-Lambton fosters opportunities for businesses engaged in bio-based manufacturing and research, while also enhancing its potential as a hub for international trade and investment.

Sarnia-Lambton’s affordability extends to industrial, heavy industrial, and commercial land and buildings, making it an attractive choice for businesses seeking cost-effective real estate solutions. Supported by exceptional electrical infrastructure, businesses can rely on a stable and reliable power supply for their operations.

With a robust industrial infrastructure and a skilled technical workforce, Sarnia-Lambton continues to pave the way for new development opportunities, making it a compelling destination for businesses seeking to thrive in bioindustries, sustainable technologies, and beyond.

About the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP)

The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is the lead economic development agency for the Sarnia-Lambton area and is committed to supporting bio-based companies in the BDO Zone. SLEP is committed to highlighting and promoting the distinct advantages that Sarnia-Lambton proudly offers to both companies and residents.

As a public/private partnership, SLEP is dedicated to advancing diverse economic opportunities across the Sarnia-Lambton area. Through collaborative efforts with local business leaders, educational institutions, and municipal governments, SLEP spearheads coordinated economic development initiatives that elevate the region’s prospects and potential.

SLEP proudly holds the distinction of being recognized by the International Economic Development Council as an Accredited Economic Development Organization. As the 2nd office in Ontario and the 4th in Canada to attain this prestigious title, this showcases SLEP’s unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation.

For more information about the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, visit www.sarnialambton.on.ca. The BDO Zone Local Development Leader (LDL) is Shauna Carr, Economic Development Officer (shauna@sarnialambton.on.ca).

About Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)

Bioindustrial Innovation Canada is a national not-for-profit business accelerator that provides critical strategic investment, advice, and services to developers of clean, green, and sustainable technologies. BIC has a strong track record of success that extends from coast to coast to coast and across several industries of significant importance to Canada’s green economy.

For more information about Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC), visit www.bincanada.ca or connect directly with Executive Director, Meaghan Seagrave: mseagrave@bincanada.ca; www.linkedin.com/in/meaghanseagrave.

About The BDO Zone Initiative

The BDO Zone Initiative is an economic development platform that enables local communities to deploy powerful economic development tools – BDO Zone Ratings – to drive, accelerate, and catalyze biobased investment and commercial project development in BDO Zones.

A BDO Zone rating is a standards-based technical risk assessment of biomass feedstock, supply chain, and infrastructure attributes of a region with respect to the feasibility and development potential of new biofuel, renewable chemical, biogas, bioproduct, or clean hydrogen plants.

BDO Zone ratings help regions and communities attract new biobased project development and participate in the growing global bioeconomy by demonstrating the maturity of local biomass supply chains and whether or not they are developed enough to support biobased manufacturing without excessive risk.

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 is the North American Leader in supplying biomass due diligence for biofuels, renewable chemicals, biogas, and bio-product project development and finance. Ecostrat led the USDOE/BETO funded project to develop the new investment Standards and Ratings for Biomass Supply Chain Risk which were subsequently used in the development of the CSA W209:21 Biomass supply chain risk National Standard of Canada.

The Advisory Group combines the BSCR Standards with powerful predictive analytics to understand and minimize supply chain risk. The 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.

Jordan Solomon is Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative and President of Ecostrat. He has overseen the development and operation of biomass supply chains for more than 5,000,000 tons of feedstock over two decades for bioenergy, biofuel, and biochemical projects.

Jordan Solomon can be reached at jordan.solomon@ecostrat.com. For more information about Ecostrat, visit the company’s website at www.ecostrat.com/standards or check out the Ecostrat LinkedIn page for all news and updates. READ MORE