An unsolicited proposal from a consortium led by Stuart Cook (EnviroMed) and engineering lead Dr. Neil Williams (MEP) outlined a privately funded gasification facility to process municipal solid waste into refuse‑derived fuel, synthetic diesel, naphtha and electricity. Presenters said the system would be privately financed, require no county land or incentives, pay a host fee per ton, and could divert more than 95% of incoming waste, leaving an inert ash byproduct.

Stuart Cook said the modular gasification technology has international precedents (the largest global facility in Dubai at ~6,000 tons/day and an example in Spain at ~1,270 tons/day) and that several North American facilities operate in the 600–780 tons/day range. The team suggested a New Hanover deployment at up to 1,100 tons/day and said it had discussed the concept with NCDEQ staff as part of vetting. Speakers projected job creation (over 200 full‑time jobs) and economic benefits from energy sales and host fees; they emphasized the proposal would be financed by off‑take agreements for fuel and power.

County staff and commissioners repeatedly emphasized caution: managers recommended a competitive, publicly advertised solicitation for waste‑diversion proposals rather than accepting an unsolicited offer. Commissioners asked about regulatory oversight, environmental risks (including PFAS interactions), facility siting (in‑county and adjacent Brunswick County sites were referenced), and financing mechanics; presenters said permitting and build‑out could take multiple years.

The board did not make a procurement commitment at the meeting. Instead, the county manager and several commissioners supported staff developing a process to solicit and evaluate proposals for solid‑waste alternatives; staff agreed to return with a recommended solicitation framework.