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Preston County, West Virginia

The Preston County, WV, BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.

Rating Issue Date: June 26, 2026.

‘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.

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BDO Zone Rating

Preston County, WV, BDO Zone Overview

Feedstock quantities are expressed in bone dry tons per year (bdt/yr), while feedstock costs are expressed in USD ($). Maximum transport distance is based on a 75-mi driving distance from the center point (Kingwood, WV).

BDO Zone Assets:

Approximately 443,200 bone dry tons per year of pulpwood and forest residue are available for new biomass projects.
Sustainable forestry practices ensure that the annual timber growth exceeds removals, leaving ample room for economic growth.
The current competitor demand does not constrain access to the rated quantities of pulpwood and forest residues.

BDO Zone Liabilities:

The biomass harvesting and transportation capacity is currently not sufficient to support a large project without additional investments.
Constrained transportation efficiencies due to mountainous haul conditions and structurally deficient bridges.
The weakening of traditional pulp and timber hardwood markets creates structural risk.
The region faces an aging logging workforce, reduced logging capacity following market contraction, and competition for operators from other industries

Infrastructure

Former TAZ Sawmill Site (Preston County, WV):

Location: 1321 Casteel Road, Bruceton Mills, WV; 1.4 miles from I-68 via Exit 29
Site Size: 42 acres (no zoning designation; industrial-use)
Availability: Vacant land; $45,000/acre
Overview: Former TAZ sawmill site on flat topography, with water, 3-phase power, and fiber broadband available. All site environmental clearances obtained.
Infrastructure:
- Electric: First Energy – 12-inch, 12.47 kV distribution circuit available on site (Contact: Jacob Keeney, First Energy, jkeeney@firstenergycorp.com)
- Natural Gas: Natural gas to the site is under construction and will be available by end of 2026. (Contact: Connell Rader, Enmark Energy, crader@enmarkenergy.com)
- Water: Preston County PSD #4 – 6-inch line with 20,000 GPD excess capacity. (Contact: Richard Gaines, Stantec, richard.gaines@stantec.com)
- Wastewater: No wastewater line currently available; sewer to the site via an 8-inch line with 50,000 GPD excess capacity is under construction and will be available by end of 2026. (Contact: Travis Adams, CEC, twadams@cecinc.com)
- Fiber: Prodigi – cellular service and fiber run directly to the site; existing capacity 10 Gbps, with additional capacity potentially available. (Contact: Tim Wotring, President, Prodigi, timw@digitalconnections.net)
Transportation Access:
- I-68 (1.4 miles); Casteel Road frontage
- No rail spur on site (closest rail service 39 miles away)
- Morgantown Municipal Airport (Walter L. Bill Hart Field) ~30 miles; Pittsburgh Int’l Airport ~80 miles.
Setting: Rural industrial site in Preston County with strong highway access; located in a HUB Zone and the West Virginia Hardwood Alliance Zone.
Site Contact: Roberta “Robbie” Baylor, Economic Development Contact, Preston County EDA | (304) 329-2299 | robertabaylor@hotmail.com

Northpointe Business & Industry Park – Lot 10 (Preston County, WV):

Location: Progress Drive, Bruceton Mills, WV; 0.9 miles from I-68 (Exit 29)
Site Size: 7.4 acres located in industrial park
Availability: Vacant land
Overview: Public water and sewer, 3-phase electric, fiber broadband available. Natural gas is within 900 feet.
Infrastructure:
- Electric: First Energy – 12-inch, 12.47 kV distribution circuit available on site. (Contact: Jacob Keeney, First Energy, jkeeney@firstenergycorp.com)
- Natural Gas: Natural gas is within 900ft (Contact: Connell Rader, Enmark Energy, crader@enmarkenergy.com)
- Water: Preston County PSD #4 – 8-inch line with 20,000 GPD excess capacity. (Contact: Richard Gaines, Stantec, richard.gaines@stantec.com)
- Wastewater: Preston County PSD – 8-inch line with 50,000 GPD excess capacity (Contact: Travis Adams, CEC, twadams@cecinc.com)
- Fiber/Telecom: Prodigi – cellular service and fiber run directly to the site; existing capacity 10 Gbps, with additional capacity potentially available. (Contact: Tim Wotring, Prodigi, timw@digitalconnections.net)
Transportation:
- I-68 (0.9 miles)
- No rail spur on site (closest rail service 35 miles away)
- Morgantown Municipal Airport (Walter L. Bill Hart Field) ~24.4 miles
Setting: Strong I-68 visibility & access; Located in a HUB Zone and the West Virginia Hardwood Alliance Zone; Existing wood industry companies nearby.
Site Contact: Roberta “Robbie” Baylor, Economic Development Contact, Preston County EDA | (304) 329-2299 | robertabaylor@hotmail.com

Valley Industrial Park (Preston County, WV):

Location: WV Route 7 and VIP Drive, Reedsville, WV.
Site Size: 2-35 acres available in the industrial park
Availability: Vacant land
Overview: Public water and sewer, 3-phase electric, natural gas, and fiber broadband available.
Infrastructure:
- Electric: First Energy – 12-inch, 12.47 kV distribution circuit x 2 available on site. (Contact: Jacob Keeney, First Energy, jkeeney@firstenergycorp.com)
- Natural Gas: Cardinal National Gas Company – 3-inch line (Contact: Tammy Zebley, Cardinal National Gas Company, tzebley@utilitypipelineltd.com)
- Water: Preston County PSD #1 – 8-inch line with 10,000 GPD excess capacity. (Contact: Cullin Cutright, The Thrasher Group, ccutright@thethrashergroup.com)
- Wastewater: Masontown/Reedsville Sewer – 8-inch line with 15,000 GPD excess capacity (Contact: Jarod Ringer, CEC, jringer@cecinc.com)
- Fiber/Telecom: Prodigi – cellular service and fiber run directly to the site; existing capacity 10 Gbps, with additional capacity potentially available. (Contact: Tim Wotring, Prodigi, timw@digitalconnections.net)
Transportation:
- I-68 Exit 4 (12 miles)
- No rail spur on site (closest rail service 20 miles away)
- Morgantown Municipal Airport (Walter L. Bill Hart Field) ~15.4 miles
Setting: Located on WV Route 7 in a HUB Zone and the West Virginia Hardwood Alliance Zone
Site Contact: Roberta “Robbie” Baylor, Economic Development Contact, Preston County EDA | (304) 329-2299 | robertabaylor@hotmail.com