FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — Neighbors are fighting back against a plan to transport up to 500,000 tons of coal through the port of Fernandina Beach.
This proposal has drawn a huge crowd to Tuesday night’s city commission meeting.
Frankly, people want answers. It's a regular commission meeting Tuesday night, but Mayor Ed Boner said he plans on talking about coal anyway since it's the obvious elephant in the room. The port is known for wood, pulp and steel. Locals don't want to add to it.
Coal is a common way to get energy, but the people of Fernandina Beach don't care. Most homeowners don't want it anywhere near them.
"I'm against bringing the coal in here. I don't think it's a good plan," said Lou Tharin, homeowner.
Action News obtained an air construction permit recently filed by Kinder Morgan Operating L.P. "C". The group wanted permission to handle and transport coal in and out of its facility at the Port.
Specifically, coal would be brought in on vessels, convoyed up and loaded on trucks for offsite delivery. Other amounts would be boarded on a barge for temporary storage. If granted, the permit allows up to 500,000 tons a year.
Lou Tharin has seen enough coal to last a lifetime. He lives just yards from the port and a paper mill -- which used coal before switching to natural gas.
"A big plume every now and then when the wind blew this way would actually coat my house. Kind of like a coal, like a goo," Tharin said.
Some, aren't bothered by coal dust and see the mineral as an economic benefit.
"I don't know how it's going to work out. As long as they got the railroad to get it in. I don't have a problem with it," homeowner Ronald Penney said.
Action News tried speaking with the Port Authority, Kinder Morgan and several city commissioners. No one wanted to comment about the controversy, but we do know the commission asked Kinder Morgan last week to withdraw its application to the DEP altogether.
Tharin said it's been a rough road for everyone.
"I'm not sure what this will do when they start unloading coal here. I just don't know," Tharin said.
Since Action News initially began reporting on this, Kinder Morgan has officially withdrawn its air permit, meaning the coal fight is over at least for now.
WJAX
