Back

Laurel County, Kentucky

The Laurel County, KY, BDO Zone for Woody Biomass is rated ‘A’.

Rating Issue Date: February 24, 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.

Download Rating

Call 833-311-4BDO

Learn More Website Webinar

BDO Zone Rating

Laurel County, KY, 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 (London, KY).

BDO Zone Assets:

Declining trend in demand for pulpwood and some types of sawmill residuals.
Regional pulpwood prices at historic lows.
Mandated professional logger certification program ensures environmental sustainability of logging activities in the state.
Project development site within six miles of downtown London with natural gas, three-phase electric, high speed internet, and heavy industrial zoning.

BDO Zone Liabilities:

Lack of logging contractors that own and operate mobile chippers and grinders.
Mountainous terrain complicates forest residue recovery.
Declining primary product markets increase long-term feedstock supply risk.

Infrastructure

McDaniel Industrial Park:

Location: Bluegrass Boulevard, London, KY 40741; accessible via KY-80 and I-75 (Exit 41)
Site Size: 173+ acres of developable land, fully subdivisible
Availability: For sale, lease, or build-to-suit
Overview: New 180-acre industrial park offering build-ready sites with strong transportation access
Infrastructure (All utilities to property line):
- Electric: Jackson Energy – 3 Phase 1.5MW
- Natural Gas: Delta – 4” line – 25 PSIG
- Water: Wood Creek Water – 8” line
- Wastewater: LUC. – 8” Force Main
- Fiber: Windstream Kinetic
Development Activity: Planned 70,000 sq ft speculative building to anchor early growth
Setting: Located near Daniel Boone National Forest, combining industrial access with natural surroundings

Spec Building 10 — Lily Industrial Park:

Location: Greta Lane Business Park, London, KY; near US-25 and I-75
Site Size: 40-acre industrial parcel (≈34.4 usable acres), fully divisible
Availability: Vacant land + 105,000 sq ft speculative building (new, never occupied)
Overview: Industrial-zoned site with no local permitting; utilities adjacent and development-ready
Infrastructure:
- Electric: 3-phase power; 14 MVA substation adjacent (KU / Jackson Energy)
- Natural Gas: 6” line (~55 PSIG)
- Water: 12” line with ~500K GPD capacity (tower on-site)
- Wastewater: 8” sewer line (~230K GPD capacity)
- Fiber: Windstream / Spectrum
Development Activity: 105,000 sq ft spec building completed (2024) on large prepared building pad
Incentives & Access: KPDI + NMTC eligible; Energy Community; access to CSX rail, I-75, and regional logistics routes

Contact Info

Ryan Magwood

Head of Business Development

BDO Zone Initiative

ryan@bdozone.org

647-962-3286

BDO Zone Local Development Leaders

Paula Thompson

Executive Director

London-Laurel County Economic Development Authority

paula@lookatlondonky.com

606-682-0223

Local grants and Incentives

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on April 27 signed legislation that creates a tiered tax credit for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that allows taxpayers to claim up to $3 per gallon in incentives. The credit is slated to be in effect from Jan. 1, 2029, through the end of 2034.

Laurel County, Kentucky

Laurel County, KY, BDO Zone Overview

BDO Zone Assets:

BDO Zone Liabilities:

Infrastructure

McDaniel Industrial Park:

Spec Building 10 — Lily Industrial Park:

Local grants and Incentives

BDO Zone Connect Webinar

Additional Information

Press Release

McDaniel Industrial Park Flyer

105K SF Spec Building Flyer

McDaniel Industrial Park Utility Map