PRESS RELEASE: FALLS CITY, NEBRASKA ISSUED BDO ZONE ‘A’ RATING FOR CORN STOVER

– Mid-America Rail Campus Positioned as Biotech Hub for Innovative Decarbonization Projects –

The Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise, Inc. (EDGE), Ecostrat and the BDO Zone Initiative are pleased to announce the issue of an investment grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Falls City, Nebraska. Falls City’s BDO Zone rating for 600,000 bone dry tons per year of corn stover is the first rating in the state of Nebraska and extends a 75-mi drive-distance from the center point in Falls City, NE.

Falls City's 'A' rating denotes high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. The capacity to support new biobased plant operations is considered strong, with the region featuring high crop yields that guarantee a reliable feedstock supply and a lack of competing bio-projects in the competition zone. Local farmers and agricultural companies are experienced in bale logistics, production, storage, and transport, enhancing operational efficiency. The Mid-America Rail Campus offers rail access, open zoning, and strong government support for infrastructure upgrades, making Falls City an ideal location for biomass-based projects. The importance of BDO Zone ratings has been recently highlighted by Citroniq Chemicals LLC's decision to select Falls City, Nebraska for the world's largest decarbonized plastics production facility.

Lucas Froeschl, Executive Director of Falls City EDGE, stated, “The 'A' rating confirms Richardson County, Nebraska as the home of consistent and productive corn yields and adds value to the agriculture industry that drives our local economy. Falls City’s Mid-America Rail Campus is positioned to lead the way for bioeconomy investments to support our local family farms, create careers and prosperity for our working families, and capitalize on our land, rail, river, and air transportation assets. Nebraska is home to the agricultural resources necessary for the next chapter of bioeconomy investments. Falls City EDGE welcomes discussions with those in the bioenergy, biochemical, and bioproducts market ready for production facility construction to meet customer demand and goals.”

Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, stated, “The Falls City BDO Zone 'A' rating highlights Nebraska's significant potential in the bioeconomy sector. This designation not only showcases the region's abundant corn stover resources but also underscores its robust infrastructure and strong agricultural expertise. This rating will undoubtedly catalyze economic growth and job creation in the area, while supporting the broader transition to a sustainable, bio-based economy.”

To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Falls City, Nebraska, please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.

BDO Zone project development support:

About The BDO Zone Initiative

The BDO Zone Initiative certifies regional readiness for bio-based manufacturing, creates global connections with project developers, and ignites an influx of clean energy opportunities.

A BDO Zone rating is an internationally recognized standards-based technical risk assessment of biomass feedstock, supply chain, and infrastructure risk with respect to the development potential of new biofuel, renewable chemical, biogas, and bioproduct plants. Investment grade ratings attract new bio-based manufacturing plants to the areas where they are most likely to succeed-- 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.  Check out the BDO Zone LinkedIn page for news and updates.

Jordan Solomon is Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative and President of Ecostrat (www.ecostrat.com). He can be reached at jordan.solomon@ecostrat.com. Ecostrat is the North American leader in biomass due diligence for biofuels, renewable chemicals, biogas, and bio-product project development and finance.

Click here to view the final BDO Zone 'A' Rating report