The city council in South Sioux City has approved a $500,000 payment to settle its part in 16 lawsuits filed against the city and a now-defunct biogas plant for sending rancid fumes through the city sewer system and ruining homes.
The settlement calls for the city, Big Ox Energy, three insurance companies and two other companies to pay a combined $1.75 million.
Big Ox began operations in September 2016, separating solids from industry wastewater to create and sell methane.
The plant was subject to odor complaints soon after it began operations and was cited for numerous environmental violations until it shut down in 2019.