Corrections departments in 50 States and the District of Columbia, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Canadian Federal Prison System were surveyed. Only 11 respondents had some experience in the energy area since 1974 -- 9 States plus the U.S. Bureau of Prisons and the Correctional Service of Canada. Their energy-related businesses included manufacturing solar collectors and testing solar systems, manufacturing storm windows, harvesting firewood, recycling paper, and producing methane/ethanol. Of the four correctional systems involved in the solar area, only California and the Correctional Service of Canada were still engaged in this business in 1981. Little, if any, market research preceded a correctional system's decision to enter an energy product area. The average energy industry employed 15 inmates at a median wage of 40 cents per hour. Respondents reported little activity in related training or postrelease employment for inmates. Institutions interested in energy businesses most frequently cited solar panel manufacture as their product of choice. The report presents detailed descriptions of four prison energy businesses: the manufacture of metal tension-sealed storm windows in Oregon, Illinois' plans to construct an ethanol plant, the Federal Bureau of Prisons' solar panel project (UNICOR), and Florida's solar panel project. Problems facing correctional energy industries include the need for wider markets, lack of capability to deliver and install products such as solar panels and storm windows, rapidly changing technology, opposition from the private sector, and high startup costs. The best way for prison systems to participate in energy-related industries seems to be in partnership with the private sector. The survey questionnaire is appended.