57.4 F
Florida
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Citizens Journal Florida
HomeNassau CountyFernandina BeachUpdate: RYAM Statement on Proposed Fernandina Ethanol Plant

Update: RYAM Statement on Proposed Fernandina Ethanol Plant

Family Styles
 
Subscribe Free

Press Release

Editor’s note: This is in response to questions from Citizens Journal Florida:

By Ryam, 5-29-24

“The City’s outside counsel prepared a thorough opinion. However, the opinion was based on limited information gleaned from the air permit application and draft air permit rather than any application submitted to the City. 

RYAM looks forward to engaging with the City at the appropriate time to provide additional information regarding the project to demonstrate that the project is an allowable use under the existing Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.

We have been a part of the community for 85 years, and have provided stable, good-paying jobs for generations of local families. The 2G project will support local manufacturing jobs, and help ensure that America makes essential products domestically again.” 

RYAM has also created a lengthy Q&A on our website dedicated to the 2G BioEthanol project here: https://ryam.com/fernandinabeachbioethanol/.

Update, received 4:36 PM, May 30, in response to our questions:

Here is an expanded reply that addresses your questions in more detail:

“Project Summary

The demand for sustainable, environmentally friendly products is growing. We aim to produce sustainable Second Generation (2G) BioEthanol using byproducts from our existing High-Purity Cellulose manufacturing process.  That is good for our environment, good for our company, and good for our community in Fernandina Beach.  RYAM already helps customers create many sustainable products, including 2G BioEthanol at our plant in Tartas, France.  So, 2G BioEthanol (which is an alternative to certain fossil fuel-based products) is a natural addition to our Fernandina Beach plant’s offerings, too. 

If approved, this project will offer more environmentally friendly solutions to some of our world’s toughest challenges while maintaining local manufacturing jobs. 

Is The 2G BioEthanol Plant Consistent With Current Land Use And Zoning Requirements?

The City’s outside counsel prepared a thorough opinion.  However, the opinion was based on limited information gleaned from the air permit application and draft air permit rather than any application submitted to the City. 

RYAM looks forward to engaging with the City at the appropriate time to provide additional information regarding the project to demonstrate that the project is an allowable use under the existing Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code.

Has RYAM Included Residents And Local Governments In These Plans? 

Yes! We have been, and will continue to be, actively engaged with the community regarding the project, ensuring that local voices are heard and thoroughly considered.  At a Community Advisory Council meeting in October 2023, we discussed the BioEthanol permitting process.  Representatives from both Nassau County and the City of Fernandina Beach were present. Additionally, we recently welcomed more than 150 people to our plant for a 2G BioEthanol open house, created a dedicated project website (www.FernandinaBeachBioEthanol.com) to provide fact-based answers to common questions, and will continue to listen and share information as the project develops.

How Will The Project Affect Air Quality And The Environment?

The 2G BioEthanol project offers economic and environmental benefits by using a manufacturing byproduct to make a new product in an environmentally friendly manner, reducing local air emissions at our plant by 5-10%.  It will also improve global air quality because Second Generation Biofuels emit 80% less carbon emissions than fossil fuel-based gasoline.  

How Will The Project Help The Local Economy? 

The 2G project supports local manufacturing jobs, and helps ensure that America makes essential products domestically again.

Is 2G BioEthanol Production, Storage, and Transportation A Concern? 

Production and storage will be carried out by RYAM’s highly trained engineers and operators. They will follow rigorous safety protocols that comply with strict regulations established by federal, state, and local regulatory bodies and insurers, who will not approve or underwrite unsafe operations.  A dedicated and robust fire suppression system, real time monitoring, and frequent inspections by skilled technicians will ensure the 2G BioEthanol fermentation process meets high standards for safety. Transportation will be subject to detailed planning, oversight and regulations, and we anticipate around three trucks per day during off-peak hours. 

RYAM has been a part of the Fernandina Beach community for 85 years.  Many of those who lace up their boots and come to work every morning here can proudly say their parents and grandparents did the same thing.  That legacy creates a special responsibility to ensure that our operations meet the highest standards for safety, not only for our neighbors, but for our workers and families, too. We’re committed to protecting and promoting our community’s economy, environment, and quality of life—not only because those are the rules, but because this is our home.”

Education Crusade
 
Knotty Line Sunglasses Yule News
  https://www.citizensjournal.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/knottylinesunglass.jpg " width="400" height="210"/>
 
Firesail Adventures
 
 Yulee News
   
 Rep. Aaron Bean
 
RELATED ARTICLES
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Most Popular

 
The Bike Cop

Recent Comments

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x