BDO Zone Investment Coalition earmarks $1 billion of capital for bio-based projects

The Bioeconomy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone Investment Coalition has announced $1 billion in capital to be deployed for bio-based infrastructure and manufacturing plants situated in BDO zones.

BDO zones in the U.S. and Canada have sustainable surpluses of biomass feedstock, strong capability, and an appetite for bio-based development and solid infrastructure to support new manufacturing plants. The U.S.-based BDO zones are economically distressed regions where new investment is eligible for significant federal tax incentives, including the New Market and Opportunity Zone tax credits.

BDO zones undergo rigorous and extensive due diligence using a framework of more than 100 standardized, transparent and validated risk indicators developed by Idaho National Labs and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (BETO) and Natural Resources Canada.  “AA” or “A” BDO zone ratings send a strong signal to investors and developers, that these economically disadvantaged zones are primed for bio-based investment and low risk deployment of clean energy infrastructure.

The BDO Zone Initiative has a “1,000 BDO Zones In Four Years Plan” to catalyze bio-based investment and infrastructure development, strengthen energy independence efforts, create jobs, and contribute to long-term prosperity.

The BDO Zone Investment Coalition is a group of leading, independent bio-based investors, capital markets, and associations that finance or promote the development of bio-based projects that produce alternative ground and sustainable aviation fuels, renewable chemicals, bioenergy, and biogas.

“The BDO Zone Initiative enables communities to pull forward green technology into their region, support creation of new markets for biomass, and do so in a way that builds more domestic opportunity,” Jordan Solomon, chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative and CEO of Ecostrat, said. “BDO Zone designations are force-multipliers for local communities to leverage their bio-based assets – agricultural residues, wood fibre, food and farm waste – as engines for clean energy infrastructure and job creation.”