Plumas County Receives Top Bioenergy Rating, Opening Door For Biomass Investment

A new study has placed Plumas County among a select group of California communities positioned for future biomass development, earning the county an A rating for wood biomass investment potential.

The rating is the result of a Bioenergy Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone assessment, a tool recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in its “Plan to Enable the Bioeconomy in America: Building a Resilient Biomass Supply” as a way to help accelerate the development of biobased industries nationwide. The technical assessment evaluated Plumas County’s forest-based biomass resources and found the county has just over 250,000 dry tons of low-risk biomass material available, enough to potentially support a commercial biomass facility.

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Officials say the assessment does not guarantee a biomass business will immediately locate in the county, but it puts Plumas County on the radar of companies looking for opportunities.

“This does not mean we will get a business up and running right away, but it does mean we will be seriously looked at for these businesses to come our way,” said Darrell Webster with the Plumas Fire Safe Council.

The council was recognized for its support of the effort, which officials say could provide another tool for forest management by turning excess fuels and wood waste into a valuable resource.

The study found current forest harvest levels are sustainable, but significant amounts of underutilized material remain throughout local forests, including piles of woody debris that can contribute to wildfire risk. Officials say converting that material into energy or other products could help reduce fuel loads while improving forest health.

District 3 Supervisor Tom McGowan called the rating a significant opportunity for the county.

“I applaud you, having this rating is paramount to anybody with money in their pocket wanting to develop anywhere,” McGowan said. “Up until now, we are just another place out in the boondocks and they don’t care. This is an opportunity we need to support and encourage.”

McGowan added that Plumas County has been forced to transition from its historic timber economy toward recreation, but said that shift has not developed as expected while forest fuel accumulation remains a continuing challenge.

Plumas County’s BDO rating is only the fifth of its kind issued in California, putting the county among the state’s leaders in identifying opportunities for forest-based economic development.

Officials described the effort as a proactive step toward addressing wildfire fuels, supporting forest restoration, and attracting potential investment.

“We are on the cutting edge of being proactive,” one representative said during the discussion.

Supervisor Mimi Hall thanked those involved for their forward thinking and support of the county’s mission to find solutions that benefit both the economy and forest health.