South Carolina is partnering with GreenGas USA to turn cow manure into renewable energy with help from some of the state’s prisoners. The $14.5 million project will be based at the Wateree River Correctional Institution, where inmates will help operate the facility.
The process involves placing cow manure from the prison’s existing dairy farm into sealed tanks. There, microorganisms break down the waste, releasing methane and carbon dioxide, which are captured and converted into natural gas.
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The program will employ 20 inmates, providing them with skills that the state’s Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling says could lead to jobs with salaries up to $60,000 upon release.
South Carolina State Sen. Katrina Shealy called the initiative a “win-win” because “we’re getting rid of cow manure and making energy and doing something at prison that makes sense.”
Half of the profits from the energy produced will go to the prison, and GreenGas USA will pay the state $100,000 annually for 20 years to lease the land. The project, set to begin producing energy by 2026, will require no financial investment from the state.
IN SOUTH CAROLINA, THERE’S PLAN TO HAVE PRISONERS HELP TURN COW MANURE-
INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY.
GREEN GAS USA IS SPENDING 14-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A NATURAL GAS PLANT AT THE WATER-REE RIVER CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE.
THIS FACILITY WOULD BE RUN BY INMATES, AND UTILIZE THE PRISON’S EXISTING DAIRY FARM TO PRODUCE ENERGY.
THE PROCESS WORKS BY PLACING COW MANURE WITHIN SEALED TANKS WHERE MICROORGANISMS BREAK IT DOWN.
DECOMPOSING MANURE RELEASES METHANE AND CARBON DIOXIDE, WHICH IS TRAPPED IN THE TANKS AND USED TO PRODUCE ENERGY.
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THE DIRECTOR OF SOUTH CAROLINA’S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SAYS THIS PROGRAM WILL EMPLOY 20 INMATES-
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WHO WILL LEARN SKILLS THAT COULD GET THEM JOBS PAYING UPWARDS OF 60,000 DOLLARS UPON THEIR RELEASE.
HALF THE PROFITS MADE FROM THE GAS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE PRISON-
GREEN GAS WILL ALSO PAY SOUTH CAROLINA 100,000 DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR 20 YEARS TO LEASE THE LAND.
MEANWHILE, THE STATE WON’T HAVE TO PUT ANY FUNDS INTO THE PROJECT, EXPECTED TO START PRODUCING ENERGY IN 20-26.
JACK AYLMER – STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
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