Southeast Renewable Energy announces new facility in Dorchester County
May 9, 2011
$50 million investment expected
DORCHESTER COUNTY, SC – May 9, 2011 – Gov. Nikki Haley, the South CarolinaDepartment of Commerce and Dorchester County announced that SoutheastRenewable Energy will build its new renewable energy facility inDorchester County. The $50 million investment is expected to generate 20new jobs over the next five years. The company has also entered into anagreement with the county to utilize virgin wood residue, such as treelimbs and woody right-of-way clearings, for a portion of the plant’sbiomass fuel source.
“We are excited about the partnership with the county in this win-winopportunity. Utilizing the county’s wood residue is not only sustainablebut it will also save them money and create local jobs,” said RaineCotton, president and CEO of Southeast Renewable Energy.
Southeast Renewable Energy will build a 15-megawatt biomass energy plantin Dorchester County that will be fueled using virgin wood residues.The company will sell the green power to Santee Cooper, and the plant isexpected to be completed in late 2012. It is expected that the newplant will also create many indirect jobs in the logging, trucking andforest product industries.
“This administration is focused on attracting investment and bringinggood jobs to every part of our state,” said Gov. Haley. “We couldn’t behappier that Southeast Renewable Energy has chosen to invest and creategood jobs in Dorchester County.”
“This investment by Southeast Renewable Energy will further strengthenSouth Carolina’s growing reputation in the area of renewable energy. Ourstate’s business-friendly climate continues to attract investment thatcreates jobs for our state’s residents, and this announcement bySoutheast Renewable Energy is the latest example,” said Bobby Hitt,Secretary of Commerce.
The company has previously announced plans for similar plants inAllendale and Kershaw counties. The company has an agreement to sellgreen power in all cases to Santee Cooper for 30 years. The agreementwith the county to use its virgin wood residue for fuel is expected tosave Dorchester County about $300,000 each year.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Southeast Renewable to Dorchester County,their investment is yet another in the Charleston region that is makingthe area a global leader in green energy,” Dorchester County CouncilChairman Larry Hargett said. “Not only is SRE creating jobs andinvesting in Dorchester County, but our partnership will save the countymoney as well.”
The company will begin requesting applications for the positions in early 2012.
Southeast Renewable Energy was founded in 2000 and is a growing leaderin the biomass energy market. The company’s focus is on developingbiomass facilities with strategic partners and helping others navigatethe development phase. For more information, please visit www.serenew.com.
