Forestry stakeholders urge state support as mills close; wood‑to‑fuel plant pitched for Orangeburg

Representatives of South Carolina’s forestry sector told members of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources and Environmental Committee on Monday that the state has faced a wave of mill closures and market losses and urged lawmakers to invest in processing capacity and transportation infrastructure.

Cam Crawford, president of the Forestry Association and co‑chair of the South Carolina Forest Recovery Task Force, said the state has seen the effective loss of millions of tons of wood product demand and highlighted recent private investments in forest processing. He recommended replenishing the Growing Agribusiness Fund and asked for significant additional State Department of Transportation bridge funding to reduce transport inefficiencies in rural counties.

Robert Bridal, chief executive of Carolina Renewable Products, described a commercial pyrolysis process that produces renewable diesel, biochar and wood vinegar from wood chips and residuals. Bridal said Orangeburg County was chosen for a pilot project because it fits the feedstock radius and workforce profile; he outlined a phased plan to install modular units (first 4 modules, expanding to 20) with initial module arrivals in June–July and full production scaled over about 18 months.

Bridal said his company operates a demonstration plant outside Knoxville, Tenn., and is running field tests with fleet partners; he told the committee that renewable diesel produced through his process can meet DOT testing and Afton Chemicals certification and should be suitable for trucks and tractors, though he warned that producing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is costlier and further down the timeline.

Committee members pressed on economics, engine compatibility and state support. Bridal said renewable diesel can be used in existing diesel engines after required additive and certification steps, that initial output would be sold largely in‑state, and that private funding would be the primary capital source though some small public grants have been used in Orangeburg.

Forestry leaders said new residual‑using projects would help stabilize sawmills by creating demand for chips and residuals after multiple pulp and paper mill closures. They also noted that stumpage prices have fallen in many regions and called for coordinated state investments in processing, workforce and bridge infrastructure to keep the forest supply chain operating.