MEAD- The troubled ethanol processor in Mead, Nebraska, hasn't paid property taxes to Saunders County since 2014. The delinquent taxes and interest is now at $1.14 million, although investors have settled some of that amount. Some say this figure further shows the state's lack of oversight on this company, along with the $210,084 given to them for COVID-19 relief.
“We do want to reiterate that the purpose of the grant AltEn received was to stimulate the economy, supporting both the jobs at the plant and the local ag economy,” the department said in a statement Monday.
Ethanol producers have lost almost $14 million in revenue during the pandemic, so the goal of giving AltEn the grant, was to help the state. At the time, the company met all requirements for receiving the money. This is just the latest development in the very problematic state partnership with AltEn. Local residents of Mead are becoming increasingly worried about the amount of contamination their homes may have experienced while the plant was active.