Protecting Our Community,
Preserving Our Future
UNITED AGAINST ETHANOL MANUFACTURING IN FERNANDINA BEACH
What's Happening Now
Important
The Florida Legislature is wrapping up its budget bills and are expected to send to Governor's Desk by 6/16/25. It looks good for us!
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June 22, 2025: Join us for Corks & Conservation at the Airport Observation Deck 6 - 8 PM.
Tickets $100 per person benefiting Fernandina Wins Advocacy, Inc. Click button above!
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June 25, 2025: First in a series of Informational Forums. Golf Club Social (next to Bealls Outlet)
Topic: RYAM's ethanol proposal and our Comprehensive Plan, etc.
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Please watch this space for timely updates, including details on our Informational Forum Series.
The NO ETHANOL FERNANDINA effort is facilitated by two Florida non-profits: Fernandina Wins, Inc. {501(c)3} &
Fernandina Wins Advocacy, Inc. {501(c)4} These entities have distinct missions and operating parameters both dedicated to our core mission of NO ETHANOL FERNANDINA. Please view the separate Donation pages for a thorough description of how these entities operate and why. Thank you!
Donate now to Fernandina Wins, Inc.
DBA No Ethanol Fernandina, a tax-deductible donation to continue our mission thru community awareness campaigns, Town Halls and other activities.
Donate now to Fernandina Wins Advocacy, Inc. This entity was formed on April 6, 2025, as a 501(c)4 Florida non-profit to provide a legitimate means for us to engage in lobbying efforts in Tallahassee. This effort is new and has a pressing need to be adequately funded. Donations are NOT tax deductible, due to the nature of their activities.
Status of Proposed Ethanol Plant Approval
RYAM filed a complaint in State Court against the City of Fernandina Beach on February 28, 2025, alleging the City's denial of its plans to build an ethanol manufacturing plant are unauthorized. Exactly four weeks later, RYAM filed a very similar complaint in Federal Court.
The lawsuits petition the courts for injunctive relief declaring its application to be complete, enjoining the City from denying it based on an improper use, and requiring the City to send its application to the City's Technical Review Committee for a compliance review. In addition, RYAM asked for nearly $4M in legal fees / damages. The Federal suit claims discrimination against RYAM by the City.
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RYAM's new frontier for finding a way around the absolute prohibition of chemical manufacturing and chemical refining in our city is to lobby the Legislature to pass a law dictating the definition of ethanol production thru fermentation is neither chemical manufacturing or chemical refining. It is a ludicrous claim but we believe their deep pockets will get attention in Tallahassee. As a result, we are "fighting fire with fire". More to be disclosed very soon.
While we continue to review RYAM’s filings and consult with our highly experienced land use law firm, our early read is that RYAM is trying to intimidate the City into reversing its decision that their ethanol manufacturing plant proposal is prohibited by our City's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.
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Fernandina Wins, Inc. DBA No Ethanol Fernandina will continue to monitor these developments, and through consultation with our land use attorneys, be prepared to act if and when warranted.
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Our Concern
RYAM's proposed facility would produce 7.5 million gallons of ethanol a year.
The location is adjacent to a densely populated area within the City of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island and situated along the environmentally sensitive Amelia River.
Ethanol is a highly flammable hazardous chemical that carries substantial risk of accidental fires and explosions.
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What’s more, chemical manufacturing and refining is prohibited by the Fernandina Beach Comprehensive Plan (CP) and Land Development Code (LDC).
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RYAM's application asserts that its ethanol production would not use either chemical processes or refining processes and therefore should be allowed.
A group of concerned citizens organized Fernandina Wins, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation DBA No Ethanol Fernandina, to advocate against the facility’s construction.
What you can do
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Write a Letter to the Editor:
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