Who We Are

We think differently.

In 2013, the founders of RPS became a catalyst for change, turning environmentally sustainable ideas into economically sustainable reality. RePower South (RPS) was born to commercialize a new technology that is changing the disposal of waste and generation of clean energy forever. Since then, its leadership has been working with communities in the Southeastern United States eager to recycle more, landfill less, and create low carbon, clean, renewable energy. RPS has two facilities currently in operation: Berkeley, S.C., and Montgomery, Ala., two communities with the leadership, courage and commitment to deliver the most sustainable solutions that residents and businesses demand at the lowest cost.

Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, RPS delivers long-term, economically sustainable recycling, waste recovery, and clean energy solutions to communities, industries and consumers. Together with our technology and equipment partners, RPS’ mission is to positively impact communities and protect the earth by disrupting the traditional approach to recycling, landfilling and producing clean fuel while creating sustainable, green jobs.

Recycling in America is at a turning point.

We all know recycling is important, but today’s recycling programs are in crisis. Increasing costs and decreasing recovery jeopardize their survival. We need to recycle differently.

We also know that global warming isn’t a myth, it’s real. Fossil fuel combustion and landfilling are inundating our atmosphere with carbon…putting our world at risk. We need to dispose of waste and generate power differently, too.

Let’s do this together.

Board of Directors

Justin Converse, Co-Founder and Chairman

A recognized leader in the energy and recycling industries, Justin Converse serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Converse and Company, Inc., an energy brokerage, material handling, and logistics management business headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C. Justin has extensive experience working with electric utilities and industrial customers throughout the Southeast. A graduate and current member of the Board of Trustees of Wofford College, Justin is an active member of his local community serving on numerous public, private, non profit boards. He is dedicated to promoting educational opportunities in South Carolina.

Contact Justin

Brian Gilhuly, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Brian Gilhuly is an entrepreneur and investment professional, having lead companies in a number of industry verticals including: energy, healthcare, real estate and media. Brian is currently focused on the efficiency and effectiveness of waste recovery and clean energy to significantly reduce our collective carbon footprint. Prior to the founding of RPS, Brian worked on the development and commercialization of Accordant Energy’s ReEFTM fuel technology deployed by RePower South. Previously, Brian served as chief operating officer of SAMI Health, a healthcare and risk management technology company founded in partnership with the Yale New Haven Health System. Brian is a graduate of Providence College with distinction.

Contact Brian

Scott Montgomery

With over 15 years of financial management experience as an investment banker, venture capitalist and entrepreneur, Scott Montgomery began his career in Poland by starting a successful multi-national textile printing joint venture. In 2001 Scott co-founded and served as chief executive officer of the Southern Mulch Company, a green waste recycling, composting and retail landscape supply businesses. Twelve years later he co-founded and served as president and chief executive officer of Core Care Medical, a healthcare software company. A graduate of Hampden-Sydney College, Scott serves on the Board of Trustees of the Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation, the Spartanburg Day School and Upstate Forever’s advisory board.

Contact Scott

Robert Shepard

A 40-year veteran of the environmental and waste management industries, Robert (Bob) Shepard has extensive professional experience in waste collection, disposal and recycling. Bob is currently owner and VP at GreenRock Strategies LLC, an environmental consulting firm focused on sustainable waste solutions. Previously, he was Republic Services’ regional vice president, responsible for all solid waste operations in the Carolinas, Florida and Georgia. Bob also served as vice president and chief operating officer of Fennell Container Company, Inc. and its affiliate companies until its 1995 sale to Republic Services. He has served on the Board of Directors of the National Solid Waste Management Association, and is past Chairman of the Clemson University Board of Visitors. A Clemson University graduate and Charleston, S.C. native, Bob is also managing partner of R. N. Shepard Investments, LLC and serves on the Board of LSC Environmental Products, LLC.

Contact Bob

Committed to tomorrow—today.

RPS offers a comprehensive, sustainable and evolutionary solution to long-term recycling and solid waste management. How do we do it? By recovering more recyclables from the waste stream to bring to commodity markets and diverting non-recyclable papers and plastics to our fuel. This means increasing recycling recovery, driving toward a near zero-waste landfill solution, reduction of greenhouse gas production and creation of a clean, low carbon, renewable fuel…below current recycling, waste and energy cost structures.

RPS Recycling and Recovery Facilities

Commitment to the Community

A partnership between your community and RPS is a win-win. In addition to the long-term environmental benefits, RPS-funded recycling and recovery facilities represent a substantial investment in your community anchored by the creation of long-term, green jobs. Sustainable waste and energy programs are becoming requirements to attract and retain business and satisfy residents. RPS delivers community sustainability and supports local educational programs.

“This innovative approach to recycling is bringing Berkeley County, and South Carolina, into the twenty-first century. This method encourages citizens to do what is environmentally friendly, without the hassle of sorting, proving it is possible to increase recycling efforts in communities.”
Berkeley County, South Carolina Supervisor Bill Peagler

“Our agreement with RePower South will again enable Montgomery residents to actively
participate in enhancing the sustainable practices of our city, reducing the amount of trash that goes into our landfills while simultaneously enhancing economic development and job creation.”
Montgomery, Alabama Mayor Todd Strange

Working together for environmental change.

We don’t do it alone, but we only work with the best.

RPS is pleased to partner with these transformational organizations:

Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) provides our multi-material processing platform and is a world market leading OEM for MSW recycling plants. Their advanced sorting technologies allow RPS to produce a high quality recyclables and fuel.

Loesche supplies our fuel manufacturing system that reduces and recombines the non-recyclable fibers and polymers into a low carbon, clean and renewable fuel specifically engineered to replace coal.

Barnhill Contracting Company is a family of builders creating solutions that enable our partners to succeed, our communities to thrive and our employees to grow. A values-based organization. Entrepreneurs and problem solvers who understand there is power in purpose. Our people are powerful innovators and when the going gets tough, we get tougher. We turn passion into promise. Simply put—we are in the business of building trust.

Treasure from trash.

Recycling programs recover some materials but not all… and we can do a lot better. Landfilling recyclables and re-usable materials is now ancient history.

Our facilities mechanically recover from the waste stream recyclable materials that are not collected by traditional recycling programs, including cardboard, mixed paper, plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, to sell into existing commodity markets.

We then recover the non-recyclable paper and plastic materials from the waste stream to, under exclusive license from Accordant Energy, manufacture ReEngineered Feedstock “ReEF”^TM fuel, an EPA-designated non-waste engineered fuel that replaces coal in industrial and utility boilers.

Accordant Energy has developed this fuel technology over a period of more than 10 years with extensive research, pilot trials, and a full scale trial in a conventional coal fired utility power plant.

Our comprehensive manufacturing process and resulting fuel quality convinced the EPA to approve ReEF^TM fuel as a Non-Hazardous Secondary Material (NSHM). This means that industrial and utility coal fired plants can typically burn ReEF^TM fuel without additional permits, e.g., without requiring the more restrictive CISWI Permit (Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration).

Due to a significantly lower carbon content than coal, ReEF^TM will also significantly reduce the emissions of Carbon-Dioxide (CO2). Further, up to 50% of the carbon in ReEF^TM is biogenic and considered “carbon-neutral.”