Lakin ? Kearny County officials plan to take a closer look at the prospects of boosting the area’s economy by establishing an ethanol plant.

The county commission this week approved seeking bids from consultants for a feasibility study. Dennis Jones, the county attorney who also serves as director of operations and special projects, said the matter is in the “very, very, very preliminary stages.”

“The first important question is, ‘Will one work here?'” Jones said.

Such questions come as farmers in Douglas County are gearing up for a feasibility study of their own, for a possible $20 million biodiesel plant. The farmers are seeking a state grant to help finance the effort.

Kearny County officials say they already have the transportation infrastructure and location in place for a plant in the southwestern Kansas county west of Garden City. A Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad line bisects the county and two major highways, U.S. 50 and Kansas 25, intersect at Lakin, the county seat.

In addition, the many cattle feedyards in southwest Kansas would provide a ready market for the distillers grain that’s a byproduct of the ethanol manufacturing process. Since the feedyards are nearby, the grain probably would not have to be dried before shipment, as it typically is when it’s being transported long distances.

Not having to dry distillers grain can save 5 cents per gallon in the production of ethanol, or $2 million a year for a plant making 40 million gallons of the fuel additive per year, said Mark Yancey, vice president of product development for BBI International of Salida, Colo., which has been advising the county.

“It couldn’t be a better place to build an ethanol plant,” Jones said.

He said sites in Lakin and Deerfield are being scouted as possible locations.

The county recently created a community development department. Among other things, the effort to raise the county’s profile includes attracting more people from neighboring Finney County, by making Deerfield and Lakin attractive bedroom communities.