$280M clean energy project to create 155 jobs in Orangeburg

A company that converts sustainable wood biomass into fuel plans to invest $280 million into an Orangeburg County site and create 155 jobs.

Carolina Renewable Products, which describes itself as a clean energy company, is establishing operations in Orangeburg, according to a news release. The company converts sustainable wood biomass into renewable diesel, biochar and wood vinegar.

Biochar is an organic soil enhancer and wood vinegar is used as a crop stimulant, according to the company’s website. ArborFuel, the company says, is molecularly identical to fossil fuel, but better for the environment and cheaper than other renewable diesel alternatives such as fuel made from soybeans or tallow.

Carolina Renewable Products says it offers a modular and cost-effective design, delivering low-carbon fuel solutions while supporting local agriculture and forestry.

CRP recently purchased its inaugural site, located at 546 Prosperity Drive in Orangeburg, which will be a next-generation biomass-to-renewable diesel facility and serve as the company’s headquarters and training hub, the release said.

“South Carolina has a rich forestry and agricultural tradition, and we are proud to harness that strength to fuel a cleaner, more resilient future,” Carolina Renewable Products CEO Robert Bryan said in the release. “Our facility will not only provide a reliable outlet for local forestry but also create products that aid South Carolina’s energy independence and help farmers, growers and businesses thrive while advancing the state’s leadership in renewable energy.”

Operations are expected to be online in late 2026.

“Today’s announcement is a testimony to the strength of our people in Orangeburg County –– their talent, their work ethic and their determination,” Orangeburg County Council Chairman Johnnie Wright said in the release. “A $280 million investment creating 155 quality jobs shows the confidence that businesses have in our county’s workforce, our infrastructure and our shared future. We welcome Carolina Renewable Products and look forward to the positive impact it will have on our community for years to come.”

The company’s website touts a facility that will be low-emission and low-noise. Carolina Renewable Products intends to build several facilities and former pulp and paper mills sites, the website says.

“We’re very excited to welcome Carolina Renewable Products to the Palmetto State’s forestry community,” State Forester Scott Phillips said in the release. “The need to diversify markets for sustainable forest products has never been greater in South Carolina, and this announcement fills a unique niche that will also generate a sizable economic impact. CRP’s decision to establish operations is a testament to the strength and resilience of our state’s forest resource and the many private landowners who sustainably manage their woodlands.”

The company says each plant will consume 400,000 dry tons of “locally source, responsibly harvested” biomass. The company timeline lays out a plan to open the first plant in 2026, expand it between 2026 and 2028, and then open plants two and three by 2029.

“Carolina Renewable Products is making a major investment in our state and our agribusiness industry, and it couldn’t come at a better time,” Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers said in the release. “This new facility and training hub will support South Carolina timber growers and local farms while protecting natural resources.”

The Commerce Department’s Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project, according to the release. The council also awarded a $750,000 Closing Fund grant to Orangeburg County to assist with the costs of site preparation and building construction.

“Today, we celebrate Carolina Renewable Products’ decision to invest $280 million in the Orangeburg County community,” Commerce Secretary Harry M. Lightsey III said in the release. “This project underscores South Carolina’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, as well as the strength of our state’s agribusiness industry.”