REYNOLDS, Ind. — Developers of the BioTown USA project hope to start preparing a site early this summer for a facility that will convert manure methane into electricity.

Vectren Corp. subsidiary Energy Systems Group has said it will spend about $10 million on the anaeorbic digester, with a goal of having it produce power by the end of the year.

“By Dec. 31, we’d like to flip the switch and go onto the grid,” project engineer Jim Groeschl said.

The digester still must be reviewed by zoning and drainage boards, said Rick Buschman, Reynolds’ representative on the BioTown Development Authority board. Pending those approvals, construction could start by early July and finish in November.

The hamlet of Reynolds, which sits about 23 miles north of Lafayette, was christened BioTown USA in 2005 as part of a state government/private industry push to create the first U.S. community to meet all electricity and gas needs through renewable energy by using everything from farm waste to sewage.

BP installed a gas pump offering an ethanol fuel blend in Reynolds, and General Motors offered deals on flex fuel vehicles to people living in the town’s ZIP code. But the original technology developer dropped out, and BioTown project leaders have since scaled back their vision.

Buschman thinks the start of digester construction will give BioTown a shot of momentum.

“We hope to kick the snowball over the side of the hill and get the ball rolling now,” he said.

The project also has received some donated land on which to build an educational center for renewable energy. BioTown leaders also hope to add more renewable energy technology, and Buschman said the digester might help attract developers.

“I think if we get this first one started and they see that this is going to be a living, breathing entity, it will bring more technology with it,” he said.