WOOSTER -- So long as Ohio State University feels similarly to Planning Commission, construction on the first new building at the BioHio Research Park could begin soon.

Clemens Halene, vice president of engineering for Schmack BioEnergy, received the blessing from the city's Planning Commission for his company's plans to construct an anaerobic digestion facility in the eastern portion of the research park on Secrest Road, which will take manure, feed stocks and other crops and turn them into electricity.

"This will be very small compared to similar buildings in Europe," Halene said. "Those make 10 megawatts in electricity. Ours will make between 300 and 400 kilowatts. ... There are about 4,000 of these facilities in Germany and probably about 100 (in the U.S.) now. In Germany, more than 100,000 jobs were created from this process. I think we can do the same thing here. We have a very attractive site for technology to come here from Europe."

The facility will contain a 45-foot-tall digester tank, and will burn the methane gas emitted from things like wastewater treatment sludge, manure and compost to create electricity.

Halene said it will then send that electricity to the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, which will provide the organization with about one-third of the power needed for its daily use in addition to heating some buildings.

Halene said the Wooster digester facility will be a showpiece for others to build off of.

"This is a facility where we can show all kinds of uses of biogas," Halene said. "We can actually separate the methane from the C02 to make 99.9 percent methane, which can be used like natural gas. Our next step is to make a motor vehicle fuel. We pay a little more for gas in Germany than in America, so it's become popular to take compressed natural gas and use it to charge a car with a tank in the back and go up to 350 miles."

Planning Commission members praised the idea, particular after Halene told the group steps were in place to limit waste odors coming from the facility.

"I know there is a situation coming through council of an environmental cleaning company that emitted odors that's being shut down," said Planning Commission member Gil Ning. "... I think this is a fantastic concept, and we're pleased that you're sensitive to the community and the odor."

Chairwoman Jackie Middleton questioned how the facility would fit into the scope of BioHio, because she said she envisioned the park as an upscale collection of buildings and laboratories.

But in addition to being located across a ravine from the first phase of the research park, Halene said the business will do what it can to make the facility look nice.

"In Germany, these are in the middle of towns," he said. "We'll make it look as pretty as possible. Everything will be painted and have a decent color. The building will be sided as well as everything else."

Halene estimated the facility to cost about $2 million, although the company has obtained several grants that will help defray the cost. He said he hopes to see work begin on the project sometime in October.

Reporter Bryan Schaaf can be reached at 330-287-1645 or e-mail bschaaf@the-daily-record.com.