Thunderbolt Biomass, Inc. establishing Allendale County Plant

ALLENDALE COUNTY, SC – Thunderbolt Biomass, Inc., a manufacturer of wood pellets from sawmill residuals, is launching new processing operations in Allendale County. The company is planning to invest $6 million in the project, creating 35 new jobs.

At the new facility, Thunderbolt Biomass will produce industrial renewable fuel from biomass sourced from the area adjacent to the plant. Additionally, the plant will produce a variety of raw materials, such as sawmill residuals, forestry residuals, thinnings and in-woods chip operations. The facility will also produce horse and animal beddings, domestic fuel and more.

“We are very happy to be building this plant in an area of abundant forestry resources, infrastructure and with the active support of the S.C. Department of Commerce and the SouthernCarolina Economic Alliance, whose personnel and expertise were critical in bringing this project to Allendale,” said Thunderbolt Biomass President Knox Grant.

Located on an eight-acre site at 1624 Bluff Road in Allendale, S.C., the company’s Allendale County operations will be housed in a 14,550-square-foot metal building. A wood pellet mill, with a capacity of 60,000 tons per annum, will also be installed on the site. Adjacent to the building will be raw material reception equipment, a dryer, storage silos, sieves, hammermills and environmental equipment.

Hiring for the new positions is projected to begin in the second quarter of 2017, and interested applicants should apply through SC Works.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to this project. Allendale County was also awarded a $100,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to assist with costs related to this project.

FIVE FAST FACTS

• Thunderbolt Biomass, Inc. establishing new plant in Allendale County
• $6 million expansion to create 35 jobs
•  The company’s 14,550-square-foot facility, located at 1624 Bluff Road in Allendale, S.C., will produce renewable fuel sourced from sawmill residuals.
• Hiring for the new positions is projected to begin in the second quarter of 2017
• Interested applicants should apply through SC Works.