WELLSBORO, Pa. - 3/3/2026 - Woodland Biomass Innovations (Woodland BIO) today announced the successful completion of Front-End Loading Phase 2 (FEL-2) validation engineering for its first commercial-scale biomass-to-gasoline facility.

This milestone represents a major de-risking event for the project, providing a third-party technical and economic validation of the facility’s design. Completed in collaboration with TRC Companies, the study confirms the viability of converting 1,000 tons per day of regional wood residues into 42,000 gallons per day of 87-octane road-spec drop-in gasoline.

“The completion of Phase 2 moves this project from a conceptual model to a validated engineering package,” said Luca Pandolfi, Founder and CEO of Woodland BIO. “This win is a major step toward delivering real benefits to the region. Our circular design keeps local resources in local hands, proving we can power our vehicles while reinvesting in the strength and future of our own community.”

The project is further stabilized by secured Letters of Intent (LOIs) for both feedstock supply and product offtake. These agreements ensure a consistent supply of regional woody biomass and a pre-committed market for 100% of the facility’s gasoline production.

“This milestone is about certainty: for our partners, our community, and our stakeholders,” Pandolfi said. “We are proving that local, circular supply chains for renewable fuel are not only technically sound but are ready for commercial execution in rural Pennsylvania.”

The Tioga County facility is modeled to create 50 to 100 direct jobs, with dozens of additional indirect positions in the regional logging and transportation sectors. The facility is more than a single project; it will prove a model designed to be replicated in rural communities across the state. This repeatable system aims to reinvigorate local economies by turning regional residuals into usable energy. While the first plant uses wood to produce gasoline, the design can eventually be adapted to process many types of biomass into other fuels, including renewable diesel and aviation fuel.

"Our finished product goes straight to market from the processing plant and is not based on the volatility or uncertainty associated with a barrel of crude oil,” said Rich Bohr, Co-Founder and COO. “It requires no additional refining. Using locally supplied low-grade forest products as feedstock ensures quality, consistency, and price at the pump for both investors and consumers. It provides stability through sustainability as a biomass-based transportation fuel for the community and for Pennsylvania."

The project has earned bipartisan support from local and state officials who view the facility as a driver for rural economic resilience. The FEL-2 validation was supported by a $50,000 Agricultural Innovation Planning Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The award recognizes the project’s potential to create commercial markets for low-grade wood residues, supporting state goals for sustainable forest management and forest health. With FEL-2 complete, Woodland BIO is now fundraising for FEL-3 execution engineering. This final stage-gate will produce detailed construction drawings and secure final permits ahead of the planned facility build.

Forward-Looking Statements Disclaimer: This announcement contains forward-looking statements regarding project timelines, modeled job creation, and illustrative facility capacities. These statements are based on current engineering validation and historical data; actual outcomes depend on the successful financing, permitting, and execution of construction.

Woodland Biomass Innovations Validates Engineering Design for First Commercial Facility

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