South Carolina inmates to help convert cow manure into renewable energy

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.