About Us

On April 21^st, 2006 the South Carolina Biomass Council (SCBC) held its inaugural meeting at the Capitol Center in downtown Columbia. Assembled by the South Carolina Energy Office (SCEO) to increase biomass energy and products in South Carolina, nearly forty members and nine SCEO staff comprise the council. The kick-off event was led by SCBC Chair, Dr. Nick Rigas, Director of the SC Institute for Energy Studies at Clemson, SCEO Consultant Mr. Joe James, the CEO of the Corporation for Economic Opportunity, and SCEO Director, Dr. John Clark.

The SCBC will work cooperatively with state legislators, biomass producers and users, and other stakeholders to increase awareness and use of biomass energy. South Carolina currently imports 98 percent of its energy and could greatly benefit from producing much more of its own.

The objective of the SC Biomass Council is to develop a long term strategy to make biomass energy a feasible large-scale alternative. The council will create a roadmap for biomass utilization in and around the state, because South Carolina needs to diversify its energy base. Bioenergy is one available option, but it will take strong state support, along with the encouragement of the SCBC, to entice investment in new biomass projects across South Carolina.