Title
Steam Plant Update
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The City of Hampton has operated the NASA Steam Plant since 1980 to provide municipal solid waste disposal for the City and steam/energy for NASA. Recognizing that the facility was reaching the end of its useful life, the City began exploring the future of the NASA Steam Plant and these efforts accelerated after the fire that took place on July 9, 2026. While no one was injured in the fire, the Steam Plant suffered significant damage and has been inoperable since it happened.
Staff has worked with our Financial Advisor, Davenport & Company, to help evaluate potential options for a replacement facility as identified by Kimley-Horn, the City’s engineering consultant. In order to fully evaluate the costs/benefits of our options, Davenport, worked with GDS Associates, who has expertise with waste to energy facilities, to develop a preliminary feasibility analysis of potential alternatives. This work has been completed and determined that the most financially advantageous alternative is to not rebuild the Steam Plant and, instead, take our municipal solid waste to the Bethel Landfill.
Recommendation:
Rec
Receive briefing to inform future Council action.