Southeast Renewable Energy is investing $50 million and creating 20 jobs at a new facility in Allendale County, South Carolina. The company will build a 15-megawatt biomass plant that uses timber byproduct for fuel. It will sell the clean energy to Santee Cooper.

The company is "working diligently to get the last few steps of the project worked out; including permitting, that will allow the project to begin construction in early 2011," said Southeast Renewable Energy President and CEO Raine Cotton.

The company will complete the facility by the end of 2012. It also expects to create indirect jobs in logging, trucking, and forestry. It is planning a similar plant for Dorchester County, South Carolina.