Col. John Hart
Ethanol manufacturing in Fernandina to be discussed
At Oct. 16 Men’s Club luncheon
A No Ethanol Fernandina representative, Col. John Hart (USAF Ret.), will be guest speaker at the Men’s Newcomers Club luncheon Thursday, Oct. 16, 11:30 a.m., at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club on Bill Melton Road.
Col. Hart is treasurer of the organization which is leading the fight against Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. (RYAM)’s plans to build an ethanol manufacturing operation at the company’s Fernandina Beach facility. The No Ethanol Fernandina effort is facilitated by two Florida non-profits: Fernandina Wins, Inc. and Fernandina Wins Advocacy, Inc., 501-C3 and C4 organizations.
RYAM applied to the City of Fernandina Beach for a site plan application for a new ethanol manufacturing facility to be built on land zoned for industrial purposes at its Gum Street mill site. The city determined that the proposed facility involves new chemical manufacturing and refining which are types of industrial uses specifically prohibited by the city’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code in its industrial zones. Consequently, the city denied the application.
RYAM supported legislation in the Florida Legislature that would redefine chemical manufacturing to exclude ethanol production thereby allowing the proposed plant. No Ethanol Fernandina, and the city’s residents aggressively opposed this legislation and defeated it in the 2025 legislative session.
RYAM has also filed suit against the city for $6 million citing the Bert Harris Act.
Col. Hart will discuss the environmental impact of the ethanol plant and steps being taken to thwart RYAM’s plan.
There will be a social half-hour beginning at 11:30 a.m. At noon there will be a buffet lunch. Our luncheons are open to members who may also register one male guest, and to non-member males who are considering joining the club.
To register for the meeting, click on the register box below. The Club has a capacity of 120 for lunch. Once registrations have reached that limit, a waiting list will be maintained.
Cost to attend the golf club luncheon is $25 which can be paid by credit card when registering (click “Pay online”), or by clicking on “Invoice me” and sending a check to MNC PO Box 16291, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035 to arrive by Oct. 11. Registrations not paid by then will be cancelled to make room for waitlisted members.
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