Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Supplemental Disclosure Of Cash Flow Information [Line Items]
Interest paid in cash	$ 12,534	$ 5,978
Non-cash transactions:
Transfers from inventory to property, plant and equipment and construction in progress	400,004	291,275
Transfers from construction in progress to property, plant and equipment	14,398,624	3,183,122
Transfers from other assets to construction in progress	2,137,341	0
Transfer from other assets to land and rights of way held for development	0	947,251
Issuance of 58,228 and 34,991, respectively, shares of common stock for services rendered	674,658	402,927
Issuance of 7,409 and 9,441, respectively, shares of redeemable preferred stock for services rendered	96,317	118,485
Conversion (on a one-to-one basis) of 5,809 and 12,214, respectively, shares of redeemable preferred stock to common stock	3,485	7,328
Dividends declared but not paid	$ 1,276,505	$ 1,270,950