Protecting Our Community,
Preserving Our Future
UNITED AGAINST ETHANOL MANUFACTURING IN FERNANDINA BEACH
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Status of Proposed Ethanol Plant Approval
On February 4, 2025, the City of Fernandina Beach issued Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) a formal interpretation that the City views RYAM's application to build an ethanol manufacturing facility at its Gum Street location to constitute chemical manufacturing or refining that is strictly prohibited by both our Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code. As such, no further action will be taken on RYAM's site plan application. RYAM has 30 days to appeal the City's interpretation to the City's Board of Adjustment.
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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