LINCOLN – The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) confirmed that AltEn, LLC near Mead, Nebraska, completed its shut down at 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021.

While the facility has halted its ethanol production, it is running a steam boiler to prevent its system from freezing and causing uncontrolled discharges. Nearby residents may see a heat plume from the facility’s stack as this boiler is running.

AltEn shut down in response to NDEE’s emergency complaint and order that was issued on Feb. 4, 2021. The order directed AltEn to immediately cease discharge of industrial wastewater into its wastewater lagoons. The details of the complaint may be found at http://dee.ne.gov/Press.nsf/AdminOrder_2021.xsp.

NDEE continues to use all the tools in the toolbox necessary to gain AltEn’s compliance and will continue to closely monitor this facility. The agency has no further comment at this time.