Submitted by Samuel Jefferson Kennard
February 29, 2016 9:31 a.m.
Rarely, indeed, do economic development opportunities present themselves without attendant compromising environmental impacts. The proposed LignoTech project appears to be such a rare case.
Fortunately, the pulping processes as well as their chemistry, including the composition of derivative products, are well known and understood. All of the independent, unbiased, credible, professional subject expertise suggests the LignoTech project’s identified advantages outweigh the risks. This refutes the preconceived and less informed pseudo scientific arguments of some who voiced early opposition to the project. Sadly, there will always be people, having an exaggerated sense of their own importance and abilities, who appear to be against any progress.
The project’s anticipated local incremental economic development contributions (employment, revenues and taxes) are accompanied by significant net reductions in environmental pollution, especially carbon and sulfur emissions. Both benefit our community and the quality of life of its residents. When all of the advantages and disadvantages are evaluated, on balance, the LignoTech project is a win/win for our community and all of the stakeholders.
The major unaddressed and unresolved problem, however, continues to be the anticipated significantly increased, dangerous, polluting and roadway congesting log, supplies and materials truck traffic in Fernandina Beach. Although the projected reduction in overall air emissions from LignoTech might justify a small increase in truck traffic, the current level is already high and the forecasted total truck traffic is both unsustainable and unacceptable. Rayonier, LignoTech, WestRock and Ocean Highway Port Authority (OHPA) all share this community problem and must all be parties to its solution.
Clearly, if our present mills and port did not exist, absolutely nobody would ever consider co locating them today in our fragile urban island environment, with limited transportation access and a burgeoning tourism and services based economy. Instead, they would be located off of the island, next to a river, in a low population density area, with unconstrained rail and highway access in nearby Florida or Georgia.
We do, however, have the mills and the port as our neighbors and must find practical ways to co exist, while prudently balancing progress with preservation. Other municipalities have already resorted to restrictive ordinances to manage their burdensome truck traffic problems.
We can no longer continue to ignore the increasing truck traffic problem. Because our local government has failed to take any comprehensive action so far, the community expects leadership from the City of Fernandina Beach Commissioners to bring the parties together to address this important and urgent issue and generate a viable long-range plan.
The desired result would be a comprehensive plan, which significantly mitigates our future truck traffic problems. This timely commitment from Rayonier, LignoTech, WestRock and OHPA should be quantifiable and based on good faith plans to implement feasible transportation alternatives as quickly as possible. The utilization of barges to transport wood chips could remove all log trucks from our congested roadways.
Therefore, I urge our City of Fernandina Beach Commissioners and local citizens to seize the opportunity and support the proposed LignoTect project, under consideration, with a quid pro quo serious commitment from Rayonier to significantly reduce future truck traffic, especially log trucks.
This is an opportunity for our City Commissioners to step up to their responsibility and for the mills and port to become more transparent citizens and better stewards of our local environment. These sound governance and business practices will earn both our local government, the mills and port increased community goodwill and make Fernandina Beach an even better place to live.
Editor’s Note: Samuel Jefferson Kennard’s Florida roots go back to the early nineteenth century. His pioneer ancestor signed the Territory of Florida’s First
Constitution in 1838 and others have lived continuously on Amelia Island for 150 years. The great grandson of a Cumberland Sound pilot family, Kennard continues a proud tradition of advocacy for a viable Port of Fernandina. Kennard stated, “Nassau County, and Fernandina beach need a working port, it’s part of our rich heritage and who we are.”
Kennard is a problem solver who believes “To do things differently, first, you In addition Kennard is founding chairman of Stand for Amelia Island, Inc., a not for profit State of Florida Corporation dedicated to advocating solutins for important issues affecting the generql public welfare of Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island and Nassau County.
Kennard was graduated from the University of Georgia and attended Harvard
have to see things differently.” Before retirement, he was responsible for
corporate policy, important management matters, negotiating agreements and advising the Chairman of a $ 12 billion international technology company. He served on the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee. Separately, he served on the boards of numerous for profit ant not for profit organizations, both as a director and trustee. He is the author of four books and numerous published articles on international business and Asian arts.
Business School executive development programs. Kennard is married and he and
his wife, Karin live on Amelia Island.
Read with interest, Sams opinion on the state of affairs of Industry on our Beautiful Island and for the most part I agree with his assessment. He almost lost my interest, and I take Umbrage in his first paragraph, with his statement “Sadly, there will always be people having an exaggerated sense of there own importance and abilities, who appear to be against any progress,” There are on this Island many individuals, with a wealth of experience and knowledge that have commented on the continuing sad saga of our Port of Fernandia and its negative potential it could have on our Community. They have also weighed in on the Ligno Tech after much research of the Industry I commend Rayonier for getting out in front, and answering questions put forth at the first City Commission meeting. I don’t agree with some folks that it will have Negative effect on our Island. But last time I looked, each individual has the right and the civic responsibly to question situations that acquire in our Community. Mr. Kannards opinion is just that, His opinion. I’ve found, there are a lot of smart folks on this Island, Not all have PhD. But have Common Sense, which is uncommon. Please all, keep your comments coming both positive and negative, keeps everybody Honest.