North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Carolina Renewable Products has broken ground on a $280-million renewable diesel production facility in Orangeburg County, launching a large-scale industrial project that will convert forestry byproducts into transportation fuel.
The 20-acre facility is being built at 546 Prosperity Drive and is expected to create 155 jobs over the next five years. The plant will process pine wood residuals sourced from regional sawmills into renewable diesel, a drop-in fuel that can be used in existing diesel engines without modification. The operation will also produce byproducts including biochar and wood vinegar.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. Company officials said initial processing modules are expected to come online by late 2026, with full operations targeted for 2027.
State and local officials said the project will provide a new market for South Carolina’s forestry sector, which has faced reduced demand following recent mill closures. The facility is expected to rely heavily on locally sourced feedstock, tying the project closely to the regional timber supply chain.
The development is being supported through a combination of local and state incentives. Orangeburg County approved tax incentives for the project, while the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development awarded a $755,000 Closing Fund grant. An additional $200,000 grant was provided through the South Carolina Department of Agriculture.
Once complete, the facility will represent Carolina Renewable Products’ first commercial-scale renewable diesel plant.