BAY MINETTE, Ala. — Hybrid Kinetic Motors officials will make a detail presentation Oct. 6 before the Baldwin County Commission for a state-of-the-art auto manufacturing plant in North Baldwin, which may employ more than 5,000 people.

Officials also said Far East investors are clamoring to participate financially in the project.

Baldwin County Commissioner Frank Burt said Monday he hopes the presentation will dispel rumors about the proposed facility and offer the public a chance for a question-and-answer session.

The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m. at the County Administration Building in Bay Minette.

HK plans to begin initial production of a slate of vehicle styles — all powered by gas, compressed natural gas and electricity — at a plant south of Interstate 65 and east of State Highway 287. Production may begin by 2012 and employ about 5,000 people.

Burt said the site was identified in the last two years during a nationwide CSX Railroad survey of potential mega sites for industry with track, highway and utility components suitable for mass shipping. Environmental considerations also were a factor.

HK officials have completed data gathering and are ready to seek federal certification for the 3,000-acre site.

A major consideration is generating an initial $1.52 billion investment through the EB-5 Visa program, which allows foreign investors to receive a conditional Green Card if they invest $500,000 in a project which creates at least 10 full-time direct and indirect U.S. jobs.

Burt said Chinese lawyers are pre-clearing thousands of Asians who are interested in investing in a secure political environment.

“We were looking for something and they were looking for something,” Burt said. “This is the most exciting year of my 21 years on the Commission. The project won’t impact wetlands, and won’t displace anybody. There is all the potential for the good and none of the hindrances.”

Burt said a railroad and power lines are in place as well as roadways 31, 287, 65. A port is less than 40 miles away.

Jason Padgett, general manager of North Baldwin Utilities, said a master plan was earlier established to accommodate North Baldwin growth and that water, sewage and natural gas service can be in place “before the first construction shovel is filled” at the facility.

“We are sitting ready,” Padgett said. “We can easily modify our plan. We are ecstatic for the community and NBU. We are so excited that we are moving forward with natural gas because it is cleaner and more economical.

“Now, there is one natural gas vehicle on the market — the Honda Civic. But with those vehicles here, the infrastructure for fueling will come with the car. People can fuel at their own homes if they want; and we will stop having to import so much oil.

“There are huge reserves of natural gas in the U.S.”

Burt was drawn into talks with Hybrid Kinetic Motors as Commission chairman last year and as a current member of the Baldwin County Industrial and Civic Division. He said Robert Ingram, director of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, was instrumental in initiating and facilitating negotiations for the project.

An international consultant heard rumors of the CSX-identified site more than a year ago and made initial contact with Ingram, Burt said.

Ingram said Tuesday he was not sure how long it will take to raise the initial investment for the facility which will have solar panels on all roofs and be surrounded by windmills to conserve energy.

“The plan is to make this the greenest facility in the world,” Ingram said, noting that plans are in the conceptual stage.

“This project is completely backwards,” he said. “Usually all incentives are negotiated on the front end and agreed on before an announcement.

“But EB-5 is like a stock offer and is public information. That is why the announcement was made beforehand. It was better to make an announcement on the front end here instead of having information flow from Asia.”