Several trucks hauled away the remains of demolition from the old sugar beet plant as workers for Abdoo Wrecking continue their effort to clear the site by June before construction begins on an ethanol plant.

According to Fremont's Economic Development Director Mike Jay, the only structures that will be left standing at the site once demolition is complete are the two towers and a maintenance building. He said after the prep work is finished by June, city officials are looking for the construction of Ohio Renewable Fuels -- the ethanol plant -- to begin in September.

"I'm cautiously optimistic because anything can happen between now and September," said Jay.

Jay said he attended a meeting Wednesday in Fremont, in which three representatives from the Bay City, Mich.-based Michigan Sugar Co. talked about offering stock to the community for the ethanol plant.

Also in attendance at the meeting were Mark Koenig of the Ohio State University Extension, Sandusky County Farm Bureau Manager Robin Bessire and several farmers from the county.

"Everything is going really well, according to Michigan Sugar Co.," Jay said.

Jay said a public meeting will be held with Michigan Sugar Co. toward the end of this month or the beginning of May to talk about local ownership in stock and the plant in general.

According to Jay, Ohio Renewable Fuels would like to have local farmers invest in the company to help fund the plant.

In addition, it will take about 18 million bushels of corn per year to run the plant.

Michigan Sugar Co. hired Fagen Inc. from Granite Falls, Minn., to construct the 50 million-gallon-per-year ethanol plant.