Good for Fernandina Beach
Good for the Planet
RYAM’s Proposed Second Generation BioEthanol Project in Fernandina Beach
About the Project:
Second Generation (2G) BioEthanol will help our world transition from fossil fuels to a cleaner, renewable energy source—which means a healthier environment and a more sustainable economy.
How does it work? 2G BioEthanol uses sugars from the “lignin stream” of our sustainable High-Purity Cellulose (HPC) manufacturing process.
Lignin:
The “glue” that holds plant cells together, and a normal byproduct of High-Purity Cellulose manufacturing.
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Key Facts About RYAM’s 2G BioEthanol
Working Forests
Our 2G BioEthanol Starts with Working Forests.
Reusing Lignin
We’re Using “Byproducts” to Create “New Products,” Without Using Additional Raw Material
Jobs
The Project Will Maintain Good-Paying Manufacturing Jobs in Fernandina Beach.
A Reduction
in Local Emissions
Making Renewable to
Remarkable Possible
Sustainable Solutions for Fast-Growing BioFuels Markets
RYAM is helping lead the world’s transition from fossil fuels to clean and renewable energy—and a 2G BioEthanol plant in Fernandina Beach can help us do it.
Our sustainable business model uniquely positions RYAM to contribute to the 2G BioEthanol market.
We were one of the first companies to realize the full potential of the tree, utilizing sustainably harvested raw materials from working forests.
In fact, few companies are as invested in nature as RYAM. Our operations support millions of acres of responsibly-managed forests, which provide wildlife habitat, clean the air, recharge aquifers, and support rural economies.
2G BioEthanol strengthens markets for sustainably-sourced, renewable forest products.
How 2G BioEthanol is Made
We are Transforming Renewable Resources into Cleaner, Sustainable Energy
Traditionally, First Generation (1G) BioEthanol is produced from the starches found in grains like corn, sorghum and barley.
However, RYAM’s 2G BioEthanol is produced from cellulose using sustainably-harvested forestry products.
Good for the Environment and Good for the Economy
2G BioEthanol is a sustainable, low carbon alternative to fossil-fuels and 1G BioEthanol.
2G BioEthanol uses a non-food, renewable resource as its primary input—in this case, trees. That means RYAM’s BioEthanol does not divert resources from our food supply.
RYAM can manufacture 2G BioEthanol without additional trees simply by using a byproduct from our High-Purity Cellulose manufacturing process. That means less waste and more environmentally friendly products at the same time.
Alternative, sustainable fuels like 2G BioEthanol are becoming more common as more companies embrace sustainable manufacturing to protect the environment. In short, RYAM is trying to help companies, like energy suppliers, become more sustainable.
Questions & Answers
The demand for sustainable, environmentally friendly products is growing. 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.
If approved, this project will offer more environmentally friendly solutions to some of our world’s toughest challenges while maintaining existing local manufacturing jobs.
This project is a win for our local economy and it will complement RYAM’s current operations.
Our local plant has operated in Fernandina Beach since 1939. Many of those who lace up their boots every morning and come to work 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. This project is still in its early phases, so it is too soon to know its precise economic impact.
It is also important to consider the environmental benefits this project will bring to Fernandina Beach and beyond. Not only will it reduce our emissions locally, it will provide a cleaner alternative to traditional fossil fuels. That’s good for both the environment and the economy.
This project will reduce our plant’s emissions, which will contribute to better local air quality.
Here’s how: First, we will remove sugars from byproducts left over from HPC production. Then, we will convert those sugars into 2G BioEthanol, which will help meet the growing demand for cleaner and renewable energy. Currently, those sugars are used as a fuel to help power our plant. This change will result in a 5 to 10% reduction in air emissions.
It will also help improve global air quality because 2G BioEthanol is about 80 percent cleaner than fossil fuel-based gasoline.
Storage and loading will be carried out by RYAM’s highly trained engineers and operators. They will follow rigorous safety protocols and operating procedures. Our procedures and processes must be compliant with strict regulations established by the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA,) the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and other regulatory bodies (including insurers, who will not underwrite unsafe operations). Transportation will be carried out by professionally licensed drivers compliant with all Federal and State transportation requirements.
The 2G BioEthanol project will be engineered to the latest standards for safety, which include proven methods for containment, and process controls that include real-time monitoring and frequent inspections by skilled technicians to ensure the fermentation process meets high standards for safety. A Process Hazard Analysis will be completed, which includes a risk assessment of each part of the process. Our employees will also be required to undergo comprehensive training to meet high standards for making 2G BioEthanol, ensuring compliance to the strict operational protocols mandated by regulators.
Additionally, RYAM will be required to perform a pre-startup safety review, regular employee and contractor safety training, frequent mechanical integrity inspections, an emergency action plan, safety compliance audits, and will be subject to regulatory reviews.
Storage:
The proposed 2G BioEthanol process design includes a dedicated and robust fire suppression system that adheres to the latest codes, standards and regulations required by federal, state and local regulators, as well as insurance providers that underwrite the facility. These organizations set strict standards for fire safety, and we follow them.
Transportation:
2G BioEthanol transportation will be subject to detailed planning, oversight and regulations. While specific transportation plans are in the early stages of development, we anticipate only around three trucks per day during off-peak hours.
Shipping plans have not yet been determined because we are still in the very early stages of this project’s approval process. However, we know the impact on local truck traffic would be minimal—likely just three additional trucks per day.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) leads permitting and regulatory oversight of this project. They set strict standards to protect public health and the environment, and we will comply with those standards.
The City of Fernandina Beach will oversee any building permits that may be required by this project, which RYAM will pursue as appropriate.
Eventually, we anticipate that local building permits will be needed, but that process is still a long way down the road. Nonetheless, we are working closely with local officials to keep them apprised of our progress. 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.
The new 2G BioEthanol facility will be constructed within our existing property boundaries. Importantly, the selected site for the new facility is positioned more than a half mile away from the nearest residential area. This considerable distance significantly enhances safety by providing a substantial buffer zone between the plant and residential areas. Additionally, the facility will not be located in the 100-year or 500-year floodplain, further minimizing environmental and operational risks.
The design and placement of the new plant have been carefully considered to adhere to the highest standards of safety and environmental compliance. The process equipment used in the production of 2G BioEthanol will incorporate advanced flood mitigation and containment measures. These precautions are consistent with those applied to existing structures within our property, ensuring a cohesive and secure operational environment. This approach reflects our ongoing commitment to safety, sustainability, and community well-being, ensuring that our operations pose minimal risk to the nearby residential areas and the environment.
This project will have little effect on how our plant uses and manages water, nor will it harm the health of local waterways (or its enjoyment by our neighbors). In fact, our plant will continue to operate under the same water permits it does today.
A small amount of wastewater generated by 2G BioEthanol production will be treated at our facility and is subject to the same strict regulations as all wastewater treated at our facility.
Our groundwater use and water management is highly regulated by the St. Johns River Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Those agencies set clear standards that regulate water quality and quantity to safeguard public health and protect the environment. This project will not change that.
Our 2G BioEthanol project will fit within our current property boundary and simply add equipment that converts leftover lignin streams into 2G BioEthanol. The project is highly efficient and highly complementary to existing operations.
Yes! Continuous improvement is an essential part of our company’s culture. We’re always analyzing our operations to improve environmental performance.
That’s why RYAM has invested in technologies and techniques that were engineered with environmental stewardship in mind.
This project is another step in the right direction. In addition to producing environmentally-friendly alternatives to fossil fuels, our 2G BioEthanol equipment will also significantly reduce local air emissions.
Additionally, as part of our air permit, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) sets clear standards to safeguard public health and the environment. We will work closely with regulators to ensure we comply with these strict standards.
It is too soon to know exactly where our 2G BioEthanol will be used. There is robust demand in Europe, but also growing demand in the United States. We’re working on this project now so that we can meet the needs of customers in the future.
If approved, the 2G BioEthanol project will be built to fit within our current property boundary, which means our “footprint” in Fernandina Beach will remain the same.
We are still in the early design stages, but the project will simply add equipment necessary to reuse existing lignin streams from High-Purity Cellulose production to help make 2G BioEthanol.
It is too early to know the specifics of the timetable. Presently, RYAM is still in the “engineering phase” and FDEP has just begun its air permit review process. At the same time, our team is still developing the economics and determining financing.
RYAM submitted the air permit application for this project to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on November 13, 2023.
Traditionally, First Generation BioEthanol has been produced from the starches found in grains like corn, sorghum and barley. In the United States, corn-based ethanol is relatively common and is typically produced in the Midwest.
Conversely, RYAM’s 2G BioEthanol will be produced using sustainably-harvested forestry products. 2G BioEthanol is a sustainable alternative to agricultural (corn) ethanol because it uses a non-food, renewable resource as its primary input—in this case, trees.
In engineering terms, our project will extract the residual sugars from an existing lignin stream of our sustainable High-Purity Cellulose manufacturing process and ferment these sugars into 2G bioethanol. That’s a long way of saying we will use manufacturing “leftovers” to create a more environmentally friendly fuel.
Unlike corn-based ethanol, RYAM’s 2G BioEthanol does not require more land. Instead, we simply convert leftover lignin from our plant’s existing High-Purity Cellulose manufacturing process. It’s a small (but important) step toward a more circular economy.
