In the rural town of Mead, residents met on Tuesday to receive crucial updates on the ethanol plant that had significantly impacted their community. The gathering, held at the Encounter Life Ministries Church, was addressed by Gov. Jim Pillen, who emphasized the substantial progress made in addressing the contamination.
“I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say we’ve moved mountains,” Gov. Pillen expressed to those present. The issue stems from the AltEn facility, located nearby, which was involved in converting pesticide-coated seeds into ethanol. This process resulted in 85,000 tons of contaminated byproducts, causing pollution and raising health and safety concerns among the residents of Mead.
The plant ceased operations in 2021 following a lawsuit, public protest, and numerous violations. By August, the last truckload of the contaminated byproduct known as “wet cake” had been removed. However, efforts to clean the site’s three lagoons, which contain millions of gallons of polluted water, continue.
Governor Pillen highlighted that site cleanup was a key focus when he assumed office in 2023. He stated, “I’m a believer in getting government out of our hair. We can’t create more laws to keep this from happening. What we have to do a better job of is have accountability in government. When something isn’t happening we have to know, we have to hear and then we have to come together and address it.”
Pesticide Coated Seeds
The troubles at AltEn began when the facility entered into an agreement around 2013 to convert a surplus of unsold seeds from major seed companies into ethanol. Although AltEn committed to following proper disposal protocols for the byproducts, the waste accumulated, creating a foul odor that residents could not ignore.
Jody Weible, residing about a mile from the plant, developed sores in her mouth and noticed her dog suffering from allergies. Other community members reported symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and nosebleeds. Medical professionals attributed these ailments to environmental causes, possibly linked to the plant’s operations.
Despite numerous violations issued by state regulators, AltEn continued its operations. The “wet cake” waste was distributed to farmers as fertilizer until it was discovered in 2019 that it contained pesticide levels, particularly neonicotinoids, well above legal limits.
A 97-page lawsuit filed by Nebraska in March 2021 accused AltEn of neglecting orders for proper waste disposal. Following an operational cease order, a frozen pipe burst, releasing millions of gallons of wastewater into local areas and waterways.
The seed companies involved with AltEn took charge of the cleanup efforts, which have spanned over two years, costing millions but without the use of taxpayer funds, as noted by Gov. Pillen.
Jesse Bradley, the director of the Department of Water, Energy and Environment, reassured that the site cleanup would persist into 2026. “We’ll continue to move forward,” Bradley stated. “Make sustained progress while ensuring everything we do is protective of the Mead community and surrounding environment.”
