Mayor Bean supports RYAM bioethanol plant saying it would be 'a huge environmental win' locally

Fernandina Beach Mayor Bradley Bean said today Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) bioethanol production plant would be a significant environmental "win" for the city.

Speaking at the Nassau Chamber of Commerce's city commission candidate forum Thursday, Bean was asked about the city commission conducting a town hall meeting regarding RYAM's proposal for a bioethanol plant that would produce 7.5 million gallons per year of the alternative fuel less than a mile from historic downtown.

"I would say over the top, 50,000-level view, this is a huge, huge environmental win locally and globally," Bean told the Chamber of Commerce members. "The environmental win locally is the significant reduction in emissions... I think with that being said, it's a no brainer when it comes to what we currently have versus the final state. That's all what continuous improvement is all about."

Bean said globally it's about replacing fossil fuels and replacing them with "jet fuel that is made here."

He reiterated "that's all things that is a win for the project."

He pivoted to "there's a lot of misinformation out there about safety. But again, I'm not going to be the one to comment on this or speak about upon that, because I work there."

Bean, who is running for re-election for Seat 1 against Joyce Tuten, is employed by RYAM as an engineer and has in the past recused himself from talking about the bioethanol issue.

After watching video of Bean's bioethanol plant comments, Tom Budd, president of No Ethanol Fernandina, wrote in an email "Mayor Bean characterizes bioethanol in such glowing terms that one might expect all Amelia Islanders to meet their personal weight, exercise and financial goals just by inhaling the fumes emitted by the proposed chemical refinery. Hardly. We recognize that second generation ethanol is far better for the environment than first generation. In fact, early on we used the slogan 'Right Product, Wrong Place.' As we’ve learned, we’ve come to recognize there are many, many reasons that this plant should not be built and this product should not be produced on a barrier island, so close to residences, schools, churches and our historic downtown."

Bean prefaced his Chamber forum comments stating, "I can speak personally on it (the bioethanol plant)."

He began those remarks with "there is a lot of misinformation about this project out there. There's just so much. It sometimes painful to see people speaking about things completely wrong, in factual information. And, spreading that information more and I see that happen all the time. "

He later added "again a lot of the stuff you're hearing is misinformation not coming from any known expert. You have to think about what you're hearing."

In response to Bean's allegations of misinformation, No Ethanol Fernandina's Budd said in his email, "Mayor Bean states that there is lots of misinformation or false information “out there” about this proposed plant. I agree, and some is coming from proponents of the plant. But none of the misinformation is coming from Fernandina Wins, Inc. dba No Ethanol Fernandina. We are very careful to back up every assertion with facts from one of two experts we have consulted with. Our main expert is a chemist with advanced degrees and a long career in related industry including managing a paper plant. In addition, we are currently consulting with an industry expert who managed a bio-ethanol plant and is completely knowledgeable about these issues. Incidentally, both believe proposing a bio-ethanol plant on Gum Street in Fernandina Beach to be ill-advised on so many fronts that they are dedicating significant personal time to help us make that case."

Answering as mayor, Bean said "it's not about me holding a town hall. Is the mill wanting to come and speak on it? The mill is available to come any time they wish. They can come to the city hall and make a discussion; I just don't think they're going too given there's a lawsuit and they don't want to speak on things while there's a pending lawsuit."

Bean ended his comments on bioethanol stating "the town hall, it's not up to the city, it's up to at this point does the mill want to talk about it? Again, they will have to eventually."

No Ethanol Fernandina has been granted a hearing on the validity of a draft air quality permit for RYAM's plans to operate the bioethanol plant in the city.

Responding to Bean assertions of lower emissions from bioethanol, Budd of No Ethanol Fernandina wrote: " The Mayor is flat out wrong in stating that emissions of HAP (hazardous air pollutants) will be reduced by producing another complex chemical product. Our expert analysis shows the opposite. Please see chart attached. RYAM’s own data from Annual Reports 2021, 2022 and 2023 show unequivocally that the increase in HAP will be so severe that a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) of Air Quality review would be mandatory. Further, when a PSD Review is triggered, a review of greenhouse gasses emissions is also applicable if the projected increase triggers it. We believe it does. The only way RYAM can project a “decrease” in HAP is by using outdated Baseline air emission data from 2014 & 2015 which is BEFORE Lignotech began to operate. Since the Lignotech and RYAM plants are considered a “single source” for PSD purposes, we believe it is unreasonable to use outdated baseline data to give the appearance of reducing hazardous air pollutants when in fact they will increase significantly."

Below: Mayor Bradley Bean's entire bioethanol statement at the candidates' forum. His endorsement of local bioethanol production is at 2:00 of the video. Click to play

Table of actual emissions (provided by No Ethanol Fernandina):