To the editor,

I applaud the Ellsworth Village Board’s decision to continue analyzing the biogas plant proposal. While it is possible the plant will be beneficial, there are valid reasons to question the optimism from factions who wish to rush it through.

The village has been starry-eyed before, most recently with the aquaponics facility that was proposed for Shopko, by a con man. This is far more consequential. It requires an investment in due diligence. There was not much due diligence with the aquaponics project. A five-minute web search would have turned up news articles about him running the same scheme in Minnesota.

Bigadan plants have had problems. There are articles about their Napoleon, Ohio plant having problems with leaks, smells, explosions. I asked them about this and they blamed the operators. Since then, I have found articles about their Schwallungen, Germany plant having similar problems. Are the same guys running that one?

Some have suggested we "trust the experts" and dive into this with little understanding of the risks. I was at the Aug. 14 meeting, and it was clear the experts on hand have interests in the outcome. The nonchalance and apparent conflicts of interest have created distrust and enmity within the community.

Leadership can regain trust by ending the blue skies narrative and acknowledging the risks, forming a plan to study them, then executing it. They need experts -without an interest in the outcome- to get data on similar plants, assess this design, its technical and business risks, and provide analysis backed by data, not testimonials. This would form a technical basis for agreements which protect the village from adverse outcomes.

Prove this will not jeopardize quality of life. Ensure it won’t end up yet another white elephant property in Ellsworth. If Bigadan is still willing, then issue the permit.

Collin LaFave

Ellsworth