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Mozart DevCo pitches regional waste‑to‑energy plant; proposes feedstock agreement and ~10 MW output
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Summary
Mozart DevCo presented a modular gasification plant sited near Okay Owingay to process ~200 tons/day of municipal solid waste into syngas and roughly 10 MW of baseload electricity. Mozart and county staff described potential hauling savings, feedstock agreements and a target commercial operation in 30–36 months.
Mozart DevCo introduced a proposed waste‑to‑energy project to Los Alamos County Council on Jan. 13, 2026, describing a regional gasification plant designed to accept diverted municipal solid waste and produce a syngas feedstock for on‑site power generation.
Steve Stringer, a Mozart representative and White Rock resident, framed the potential county partnership around hauling and tipping‑fee savings and introduced technology and business cofounders. "We will take in 200 tons a day of municipal waste from around the region," Stringer said, and Mozart estimated Los Alamos County produces about 60–80 tons per day. The company projected approximately 10 MW of baseline electrical output and said a first plant could be commercially operational in about 30–36 months.
Mozart said it had selected a site on tribal lands near Okay Owingay, close to existing highway access and a substation, and said trucking distances could fall from roughly 90 miles one way to a roughly 20‑mile one‑way trip to the plant for Los Alamos haulers. The presenters described their modular approach and bankable technology partners, and they said carbon dioxide from gasification would be captured and explored for sequestration or utilization (product markets such as graphene were noted as options).
Councilors asked about liability for unacceptable materials, screening and reject handling, potential effects on waste‑reduction incentives, and how much the county would need to commit to feedstock volumes. Mozart said those terms would be addressed in a negotiated feedstock agreement and that screening systems and a low reject rate were expected; the county’s procurement and legal processes would guide any future agreement. Staff noted that potential feedstock agreements and other commitments would require future council action.
No contract or commitment was approved at the work session; Mozart asked to continue detailed engineering and to work with county staff on procurement and feedstock terms.
