FAIRMONT - Officials from Welcome and Martin County were on hand Friday for a presentation on a proposed bioenergy park near Welcome. They were apprehensive about embracing the project.

While representatives of Midwest Biogas spent nearly an hour explaining how their plant would produce renewable energy from manure, corn stover and hydroponic wastes, there were several sticking points for local officials. Because the project has only been pitched in the past six weeks, many details were not solidified in writing.

"I admit I'm kind of cynical," said Martin County Commi-ssion chairman Steve Donnelly. "We've seen these type of plans before and they've just fallen through."

The presentation by Nick Nelson of Midwest Biogas focused on how the plant would operate; what wastes it could recycle and turn into energy; and the plant's positive effects on the environment.

"There is a big push for biomass and alternative energy options," he said.

Nelson said that along with trucking in manure, the plant could use the mash leftover from ethanol plants, clean up those plants' water and send it back for re-use.

"We've even revisiting the steam issue," Nelson said. "In the last article out, we said something about discharging steam, but we can pull the chemicals out, clean the water and get it back to the ethanol plants. We wouldn't need to vent after all, and that's something that we don't want to do if we can condense it and gain more water to send back to the ethanol plant."

Nelson also listed numerous feedstock connections, potential customers and spinoff industries the plant could bring to the area, creating new jobs.

"This could be a showcase for Minnesota and for the nation," Nelson said. "We've chosen a high-caliber team to make this happen, to make sure it's successful. It's critical that the U.S. gets this right and moves this industry forward."

When Martin County Commissioner Steve Pierce asked about the company's plans for financing, Olson said the company is not ready to disclose the information, and admitted it has "a way to go."

"We understand the skepticism," Nelson said. "We are trying to disclose this part of the project early; we want everyone to have the right to know about this ahead of time."

"Are you sure you aren't getting ahead of yourself?" Pierce asked. "You have all these plans, and yet you haven't even begun the permitting process for this, which is three to five years in itself."

Donnelly asked Nelson point blank, "What do you expect from the county?"

Nelson listed the requests as: a letter of support for the project; hooking up with water and sewer from Welcome; road work that would include widening the road for a turnoff from County Road 26, as was done for the Valero ethanol plant; annexation and zoning needed for the project; and JOBZ funding, which offers tax relief.

"We are better at writing letters than giving out money these days," said Commissioner Gerald Boler.

Boler inquired whether the bioenergy park would qualify for federal stimulus money.

Nelson said the project has until December 2010 to capture stimulus money, and the plant would have to be built by December 2013.

"You won't even be through the door for permitting by that time," Pierce shot back.

"This is not a new technology," Nelson explained. "Projects like this are already in Europe and they are coming this way. It won't be a surprise when it hits the state's desk."

"This is a quarter-billion dollar idea you have here," said state Rep. Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont. "I'm just curious as to why you can't lock it down and show that it's working."

Most officials who spoke agreed that more analysis to back up some of the company's claims and statements are needed before they can believe in the project.

"We're under no illusion that this won't be a challenge," Nelson said.