LINCOLN- After two days of heated debate, the Legislature finally confirmed that Jim Macy will continue as director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy on a 38-0 vote, ending a brief filibuster by opponents who claimed Macy didn't act decisively enough in the wake of the AltEN ethanol plant disaster near Mead, Nebraska. Sen. Carol Blood led the filibuster, delaying the confirmation vote for two days.

Sen. Bruce Bostelman, during the debate and filibuster, noted that Macy, who Gov. Pillen retained two months ago, was recommended to retain his position by a 7-0 committee vote following a public hearing that saw no opposing testimony. Blood countered this argument by stating that Macy should have taken prompt action to shut down the AltEn plant before its use of pesticide-coated seed further polluted the environment and more Nebraskans became "collateral damage."

After a motion to reconsider Monday's unsuccessful vote to return the decision to the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee failed 33-10, the Legislature, on Tuesday, finally confirmed Macy's appointment with 11 senators, mostly opponents, not voting.

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