‘A’ rating opens bioenergy development possibilities in Malheur County
By Logan Bagett on Wednesday, April 29th, 2026 in Northeastern Oregon News Northeastern Oregon Top Stories
MALHEUR COUNTY — A release from Malheur County Economic Development states the county has received an “A” grade for the way it manages its dairies and feedlot manure. According to officials, this opens the possibility for manure-basted bio-projects to get their supply from Malheur County. In other words, they’ll use local cow poop to generate energy.
Find a press release below from the Malheur County Economic Development Office:
(Press Release from the Malheur County Economic Development Director Taylor Rembowski)
Malheur County Economic Development, Ecostrat, and the BDO Zone Initiative are pleased to announce the issue of a BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Malheur County, Oregon. The BDO Zone is the first in North America for dairy and feedlot manure; it is rated for 190,000 wet tons per year and spans a 75-mile drive radius from Nyssa, OR.
Malheur County’s ‘A’ rating denotes high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. Feedlots and dairies across Oregon have shown strong willingness to engage with new buyers, as current markets remain seasonal and frequently saturated. Regulatory objectives focused on reducing land application of manure, combined with established management practices and existing infrastructure, position the region well to support alternative uses. High confidence in the consistency of projected manure supply, supported by the historically strong and stable performance of the region’s dairy and beef industries, creates an ideal environment for manure-based bio-projects seeking a reliable feedstock supply.
Taylor J. Rembowski, Economic Development Director of Malheur County, stated, “The ‘A’ rating highlights Malheur County’s readiness for bioenergy development, while also pointing to opportunities to continue building on that momentum. With reliable feedstock supply and a strong infrastructure foundation already in place, we’re well-positioned to attract new biobased investment and support sustainable growth in the region.”
Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, stated, “Malheur County’s ‘A’ rating reflects a strong foundation for manure-based bioenergy development, supported by a reliable feedstock supply and a clear willingness among regional producers to engage new buyers. Existing infrastructure and the long-term strength of the local dairy and beef industries position the region well to support new manure-based bio-projects.”
To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Malheur County, OR please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.
About The BDO Zone Initiative
The Biofuel Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone Initiative certifies ‘regional readiness’ for bio-manufacturing, creates global connections and ignites an influx of new energy opportunities for farmers, economic developers, and rural businesses. A BDO Zone rating is an internationally recognized, standards-based technical risk assessment of a region’s feedstock, supply chain, and infrastructure risk with respect to the development potential for new biofuel plants. BDO Zone ratings are site location bullseyes for bio-project development. Investment grade ratings are force-multipliers for attracting new manufacturing plants to the areas where they are most likely to succeed, drive investment and create jobs.
For more information on the BDO Zone Initiative, contact info@bdozone.org. To view all BDO Zone ratings, visit www.bdozone.org. Visit the BDO Zone LinkedIn page for news and updates.
Ecostrat is the North American leader in biomass due diligence for biofuels, renewable chemicals, biogas, and bio-product project development and finance. Jordan Solomon (jordan.solomon@ecostrat.com) is Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative and President of Ecostrat (www.ecostrat.com).
**BDO Zone Initiative photo**
