While many people seemed open to the idea of biomass as a form of renewable energy, much of the discussion after the presentation revolved around economic feasibility. Kerns doesn't disguise the fact that this generator, at this size, is not economical.

"As this technology develops, it might be something we could take advantage of," said Dan Rogers, member service manager of Missoula Electric Cooperative.

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Until then, this type of generation is far from cost effective.

The co-op says 100 percent of its energy portfolio is already renewable because it buys from the Bonneville Power Administration, which sells hydroelectric power. Missoula Electric buys a kilowatt for around 3 cents, which is far less than the price of what the mobile biomass generator could provide.

In island countries, however, and other places where power generation is expensive - Alaska, for instance - the technology may be economically feasible. But in Montana, not so much.

If the BioMax were larger, commercialized and built on an assembly line instead of by highly paid scientists and engineers, the cost would come down, Kerns said.