Preston County BDO Zone Rating Creates New Opportunities for Biobased Investment

A growing economic development program is helping investors and businesses identify areas with rich investment potential based on local resources that have been overlooked and underutilized. The Biofuel Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone Initiative is picking up momentum across North America, and Preston County, WV, has recently received this sought-after accreditation. In August of 2026, the county was issued a BDO Zone Rating “A” for Woody Biomass. As one of only 37 regions in the United States to receive an “A” rating or better in 2026, the Preston County Economic Development Authority is actively working to ensure the county makes the most of this important opportunity. 

What is the BDO Zone Initiative?

The BDO Zone Initiative is a North American program spearheaded by Ecostrat, an internationally recognized advisory firm specializing in biomass, bioenergy, and bio-based project development and investment risks.

The initiative identifies areas that have bio manufacturing potential. Ecostrat conducts intensive research in the area to determine the region’s potential and risk factors that might affect possible investment. In essence, the BDO Initiative performs the due diligence that most local governments and individual businesses or investors cannot do on their own.

Once this research is complete, ratings are assigned to regions that meet the qualifications for potential bio manufacturing investment.

What does the BDO Zone Rating mean for Preston County?

Preston County is currently the only county in West Virginia that has been rated a BDO Zone. There are only 58 BDO Zones identified in all of North America, and only 37 in the US rated “A” or better. This sets Preston County apart as a significant region for bio manufacturing opportunities, specifically within the following categories:

• Wood
• Wood pulp
• Forest residue

Preston County BDO Zone records indicate there are approximately 443,200 bone-dry tons per year of pulpwood and forest residue available for biomass projects.

The economic impact of a positive BDO Zone rating for a community can be extensive. In 2025, third-party research conducted by Dr. Burton C. English of the University of Tennessee confirmed that projects launched in BDO Zones collectively generated an average annual economic impact of $423M in the US and $556M in Canada.

Other BDO Zone communities have already started seeing the positive impact that this designation can provide.

• Falls City, NE- Falls City EDGE credits their BDO Zone rating with helping to land a new “$5 billion bio-polypropylene manufacturing project by Citroniq Chemicals.”
• North Iowa Corridor EDC- Reports 5 project inquiries representing over $1B in potential investment and 50-200 jobs. Inquires were obtained in the first 3 months of receiving the rating
• Wyoming County, PA- Received 5 serious investment inquiries upon receiving the BDO Zone Rating, which is significant for this rural county of only 27,000.

What BDO Zone opportunities are in Preston County?

Preston County received the following BDO Zone rating: “A” Rating for Woody Biomass.

According to the 60-page Preston County, WV BDO Zone Rating Report, an “A” rating is defined as the following:

“‘A’ ratings denote high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. Capacity to support new biobased plant operations is considered strong.”

Woody Biomass in the region is identified as wood, wood pulp, and forest residue. Industries that benefit from this resource include:

• Construction and Engineering: Mass timber, lumber, and engineered wood products
• Packaging and Consumer Goods: Corrugated cardboard boxes, hygiene products (diapers, wipes), and speciality cellulose for household goods
• Textiles and Fashion: Renewable, biodegradable fabrics like rayon, which can be created from wood pulp
• Energy and Bio-Utilities: Industrial wood pellets for power plants, municipal biomass heating, and cellulosic biofuels like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
• Advanced Bio-Chemicals: Bioplastics, nanocellulose, and pulping byproducts refined into paints and ink

What are the advantages of investing in Preston County’s BDO Zone?

Ecostrat has identified specific advantages and assets for investors considering the Preston County BDO Zone. The BDO Zone Report lists the following assets:

• Approximately 443,200 bone-dry tons per year of pulpwood and forest residue
• Sustainable forestry practices which ensure annual timber growth will exceed removals, leaving room for economic growth
• Competitor demands do not currently constrain access to the rated quantities of resources

In addition to these assets, Ecostrat has identified economic development sites within Preston County that are prime locations for utilizing BDO Zone identified resources. These sites are currently being managed by Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA).

• North Pointe Industrial Park Lot 10
• Valley Industrial Park
• Former TAZ Sawmill

What makes the TAZ Sawmill site a significant BDO Zone investment?

In the 1990s and early 2000s, TAZ Hardwoods operated in Preston County and was actively investing in wood production technology complete with laser-sight-guided band saw equipment.

A fire in 2001 created significant operational difficulties for the company. TAZ continued operating for several years afterward, but by the late 2000s the operation had ceased, leaving behind a former industrial property that would eventually become a target for redevelopment.

In 2025, the Preston County Economic Development Authority was awarded an Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Grant from the state of West Virginia. PCEDA identified the TAZ Sawmill site, once a significant economic contributor to Preston County, as a redevelopment project using these funds.

The AMLER Grant has been used to revitalize utilities to the site and open it to prospective businesses. Although utility work is ongoing, the site has already welcomed a local metal fabrication operation, Warhead Industries. Work on utility infrastructure at the site continues with a projected completion date of late 2026.

The TAZ Sawmill site’s identification as a prime location within a BDO Zone, along with the inflow of AMLER Grant funding, promises to create a dynamic investment opportunity for the right businesses and investors ready to take advantage of Biofuel Development Opportunities.

How can investors learn more about this opportunity?

The Ecostrat BDO ZoneCONNECT Webinar featuring Preston County is the best way to learn more details about this powerful investment opportunity. This webinar contains in-depth details and data presented by Ryan Magwood, Head of Business Development at Ecostrat, and the Preston County Economic Development Authority Team.  

You can also contact PCEDA today to learn more about the BDO Zone Rating, TAZ Sawmill Site, and other investment opportunities.