Carolina Renewable Products has begun work on its first renewable diesel manufacturing facility in Orangeburg County, launching a $280 million clean-energy project that is expected to generate 155 jobs over the next five years, reports Biomass Magazine.
The facility is being developed on a 20-acre site at 546 Prosperity Drive in Orangeburg, South Carolina. It will use pine wood by-products sourced from nearby sawmills to produce renewable diesel, a fuel that can be used in existing engines without modification. In addition to fuel, the plant will manufacture by-products such as biochar and wood vinegar.
Robert Bryan, chief executive officer of Carolina Renewable Products, said the project is focused on creating employment, encouraging innovation and expanding clean fuel production within the state. He said the company had carefully planned the investment and identified Orangeburg as the right location for the facility.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. The first production units are expected to come online by the end of 2026, with the plant reaching full capacity in 2027. State and county officials said the project will help support South Carolina’s forestry industry, which has been affected by mill shutdowns and reduced demand.
The project is receiving financial support through county tax incentives, along with a $755,000 grant from the Coordinating Council for Economic Development’s Closing Fund and a $200,000 grant from the South Carolina Secretary of Agriculture.
