North Carolina's New Hanover County’s retired waste-to-energy facility may get new life. County commissioners will discuss the future of the facility in light of recommendations made by county staff on May 21. In an effort to retrofit, refurbish and rebrand the facility, county staff has renamed it the Sustainable Energy Facility, or SEF.

The county faces the challenge of preserving space in its landfill, explained assistant county manager Chris Coudriet. Without the facility, the landfill will reach full capacity in 51 years. If the facility is used, the life of the landfill will extend an additional 50 years.

"The available space is decreasing and we are going to have fewer options," Coudriet said. "We are going to be subject to the private market in terms of where landfills are and what the gate prices are to move the materials in there."

Coudriet recommended to the commissioners that Covanta Energy lead the county in restoring the waste-to-energy facility. The company was one of six companies that bid for the project....