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Miami-Dade County stands at a crossroads. Our population is growing, our waste-disposal capacity is shrinking, and the clock is ticking on finding a long-term solution that protects residents, taxpayers, and our environment. For years, we’ve talked about innovation, sustainability, and modernizing our infrastructure. Today, we finally have a real opportunity to act — and do so with a home-grown company and the backing of local government officials.
That opportunity is the Florida Power & Light (FPL) Waste-to-Energy facility, proposed under Resolution 252440. It is the first serious, fully developed, financially sound plan capable of handling Miami-Dade’s waste crisis for the next generation. And it is time — long past time — for our county to move forward.
The Crisis Is Real, and It’s Here
Let’s stop pretending otherwise: Miami-Dade is running out of places to put its trash. Landfills are reaching capacity. Population growth keeps accelerating. Environmental constraints are tightening. And the longer we wait, the more expensive and chaotic the solutions become.
We need a facility built to modern standards — not patched-together fixes, not endless studies, not political finger-pointing. And FPL’s plan is that solution.
A Partner With the Experience Miami-Dade Needs
This isn’t an untested startup or a speculative venture. FPL has been part of Miami-Dade since 1925. They operate three solar centers, a nuclear facility, and major local infrastructure projects — including the Miami-Dade Clean Water Recovery Center and the PortMiami shore power project.
FPL knows how to build big. They know how to build safely. And most importantly, they know how to build on time and on budget — something county government has struggled with for decades.
Their all-in-one ownership model gives Miami-Dade a predictable, lowest-cost solution without forcing taxpayers to shoulder the operational or financial burden.
The Environmental and Financial Choice Is Obvious
A Waste-to-Energy facility is not just cleaner than landfilling – it’s dramatically more responsible.
- It uses far less land.
- It reduces long-term environmental impact.
- It generates energy instead of burying waste.
- It provides stability in storm seasons and population surges.
- It is financially backed by a company with investment-grade ratings and proven reliability.
While others stall, FPL is ready to start. They have identified a compliant site. They have a build-ready timeline. All they need is the County Commission’s approval.
Seven to Ten Years May Sound Long – Until You Consider the Alternative
Construction will take time. But so will every other option — except landfilling, which requires nothing more than kicking the can down the road and hoping it doesn’t hit us in the face. We’ve already seen what happens when we delay infrastructure decisions: soaring costs, emergency fixes, and public frustration.
Approving this resolution is the difference between planning for our future and scrambling to survive it.
Miami-Dade’s Leaders Must Choose Progress
This is not complicated. Do we want a modern, sustainable, cost-effective waste solution — or another decade of crisis management? Do we want a proven partner with the strength to finance, build, and operate this facility — or do we want taxpayers to shoulder the uncertainty? Do we want environmental leadership — or continued dependence on overflowing landfills?
The answer should be unanimous.
The Time to Move Forward Is Right Now
FPL’s Waste-to-Energy facility is the only proposal that meets Miami-Dade County’s urgent needs and long-term goals. It is financially responsible, technologically sound, environmentally superior, and backed by nearly a century of local experience.
Miami-Dade cannot afford more delays, more committees, or more political hesitation. We need action. We need leadership. And we need commissioners to approve Resolution 252440 without excuses or delay.
This is the moment to secure Miami-Dade’s future. Let’s not waste it.
