FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. – A new bill in the Florida Legislature has raised concerns for Fernandina Beach residents who are against a bioethanol plant opening in the city.
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Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) had previously submitted plans to expand its facility to include a bioethanol plant, which the city rejected in February.
However, a new bill has residents concerned that the door may be reopened, with one senator saying they’ve received about 150 calls on the legislation.
The bill, Senate Bill 1118 had an amendment added on Friday, which read:
PRODUCTION OF ETHANOL.—For the purposes of this section, the production of ethanol from plants and plant products as defined in s. 581.011 by fermentation, distillation, and drying is not chemical manufacturing or chemical refining. This subsection is remedial and clarifying in nature and applies retroactively to any law, regulation, or ordinance or any interpretation thereof.
Senate Bill 1118
The city’s comprehensive plan currently states “chemical or petroleum manufacturing or refining, rubber or plastics manufacturing, or other uses generating potentially harmful environmental or nuisance impacts shall be prohibited.”
However, if the bill passes as is, the bioethanol plant would be defined by state law as “fermentation, distillation, and drying,” instead of “chemical manufacturing or chemical refining.”
Senator Stan McClain who represents Marion, Levy, and part of Alachua introduced the bill, saying the goal of it is to address the influx of people moving to Florida and tweak the local development process.
“We have an inconsistent application of the laws we currently have,” McClain said. “One day we’re approving development. The next day we try and stop development and that’s not consistent.”
Tom Budd, the president of Fernandina Wins, which also operates as No Ethanol Fernandina, voiced his opinion against the bill.
“This proposal completely destroys local control of zoning and it is a precedent that should upset every single community in the state of Florida,” Budd said. “It’s like the legislature is going to say, ‘The argument’s over, we’re ordaining that Fernandina Beach loses in their argument and they have no control over their own zoning in this case.‘”
The bill was on Monday’s agenda for the Senate Community Affairs meeting and passed with a 5-3 vote, including a “yes” from Senator Tom Leek, who represents parts of our coverage area.
