BDO Zone Initiative
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El Dorado County, California

The El Dorado County, CA, BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.

Rating Issue Date: August 19, 2025.

‘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

A

El Dorado County, CA, 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 (Camino, CA).

BDO Zone Assets:
  • A strong vision to develop a community bioeconomy to utilize biomass from regional forest restoration and fire remediation activities.
  • Little to no competition for surplus Pulpwood and Forest Residues in the BDO Zone.
  • Extensive local experience implementing forest restoration and wildfire risk reduction programs.
  • Logging, grinding, and transportation equipment capacity able to sustain the rated biomass quantities.
  • Established infrastructure for a potential biomass project development at a former sawmill site.
BDO Zone Liabilities:
  • Biomass quality and quantity fluctuations arising from forest restoration, salvage, and wildfire mitigation activities.
  • Road infrastructure challenges, especially in National Forests and steep terrains.
  • Strong dependency of nontimber forestry objectives, such as wildfire mitigation and ecological restoration, on government subsidies.

Infrastructure

Camino Industrial Site (Former SPI Sawmill):
  • Location: 3955 Carson Rd., Camino, CA; 0.5 miles from US-50, ~54 miles to Sacramento
  • Site Size: 177 acres of industrial-zoned land (M Industrial)
  • Availability: Vacant land; no existing structures
  • Overview: Former Sierra Pacific Industries sawmill site with graded, partially paved terrain and existing utility access
  • Infrastructure:
    • Electric: PG&E – limited service; 3-phase requires substation upgrade (adjacent substation present)
    • Natural Gas: Propane (multiple suppliers)
    • Water: El Dorado Irrigation District – 12” line (~1M GPD capacity)
    • Wastewater: Onsite septic
    • Fiber: Xfinity (Comcast) + fiber/cable providers
  • Transportation Access:
    • Highway 50 (0.5 miles), I-80 (25 miles)
    • No rail access (nearest rail ~50 miles, Sacramento)
    • Placerville Airport (19 miles); Sacramento International (54 miles)
  • Setting: Rural industrial site with strong highway proximity; redevelopment opportunity on former mill footprint
  • Site Contact:
    • Jennifer Franich, Principal Management Analyst, El Dorado County | 530-621-7539 | jennifer.franich@edcgov.us
  • Current Status Note: While the site is presently understood to be unavailable for active development, Sierra Pacific Industries has indicated potential openness to reconsideration should a project proposal demonstrate strong mutual strategic and economic benefits.
Former Vita Bark Plant Site:
  • Location: 5960 South Shingle Rd., Shingle Springs, CA; ~3.5 miles from US-50, ~35 miles to Sacramento
  • Site Size: 32.5 acres (2 parcels: 26.3 + 6.2 acres), industrial-zoned
  • Availability: Vacant land with existing pads from former processing facility
  • Overview: Former wood processing site with rail-served history; multiple prepared building areas and flexible layout
  • Infrastructure:
    • Electric: PG&E – 3-phase power surrounding site
    • Water: EID – limited service (6” mains); supplemental on-site artesian well + proposed 1M gallon pond
    • Wastewater: No sewer; onsite septic feasible (multiple approved locations)
    • Natural Gas: Propane (multiple suppliers)
    • Rail: Historic rail spur access on site
  • Development Features:
    • Existing building pads at ~1130 ft elevation
    • Natural grade supports gravity-fed water system (~30 psi)
    • Minimal tree clearing constraints (limited oak presence)
  • Environmental & Site Conditions:
    • Former industrial use; environmental remediation completed (no remaining contaminants)
    • Soils and topo surveys available
  • Setting: Semi-rural industrial site with legacy rail access and integrated water solution potential
  • Site Contact:
    • Jennifer Franich, Principal Management Analyst, El Dorado County | 530-621-7539 | jennifer.franich@edcgov.us
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Contact Info

Ryan Magwood

Ryan Magwood

Head of Business Development

BDO Zone Initiative

ryan@bdozone.org

647-962-3286

BDO Zone Local Development Leaders

Jennifer Franich

Jennifer Franich

Principal Management Analyst

El Dorado County

jennifer.franich@edcgov.us

530-621-7539

Local grants and Incentives

Local Incentives:
California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz):

California’s leader for job growth, economic development, and business assistance efforts.
Assistance and incentives include:

  • Financing
  • Industrial Development Bonds
  • Climate Catalyst Program
  • Tax Credits, Exemptions and Exclusions

Grants are available through multiple State and Federal agencies.

State Incentives:
  • California I-Bank (CA Treasurer’s Infrastructure & Economic Development Bank) (IBank) offers industrial development bonds, small business loan guarantee (1-750 employees), and tax-exempt financing for manufacturers facilities and equipment.
  • CA I-Bank Climate Catalyst Program – offers a range of financial instruments to help bridge the financing gap currently preventing advanced technologies from scaling into the marketplace – with biomass management and utilization as one critical focus.
  • California Competes Tax Credit – significant incentives for job creation and investment, evaluated annually by the Governor’s Office.
  • Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) – promotes the hiring of individuals who qualify as members of target groups, by providing a federal tax credit incentive of up to $9,600 for employers who hire them.
  • Sales Tax Exemption – Administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) – for manufacturers and certain research and developers, certain electric power generators and distributors, may qualify for a partial exemption from sales and use tax on the purchase or lease of qualified machinery and equipment primarily used in manufacturing, research and development, and electric power generation or production, storage or distribution.
  • Sales and Use Tax Exclusion (STE) Program – Administered by the California Alternative Energy and Advanced
  • Transportation Financing Authority (CAEATFA) – provides a full sales and use tax exclusion for advanced manufacturers and manufacturers of alternative source and recycled feedstock.
  • The Employment Training Panel (ETP) – provides funding to employers for training that upgrades the skills of their workers.
  • Economic Development Rate Program (GO-Biz) – This program gives special utility discounts for businesses that require high-energy loads to operate or continue operating in California.
  • Business Investment Services(CalBIS) – Help businesses with incentive navigation, site selection, connecting with other state agencies and permit assistance.
  • Export Support STEP Grant – Grant funding for CA small businesses seeking to expand into foreign markets.

BDO Zone Connect Webinar

Additional Information

Elevate to El Dorado – Strategic Advantages
El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce
El Dorado Hills Industrial Park
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El Dorado County, California Slides - BDO ZoneCONNECT Webinar

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