Miami-Dade County is ramping up its efforts to cut carbon emissions by powering county-owned buildings with solar energy.
A local corrections center is part of that equation.
This month county officials unveiled a new installation of solar panels on the roof of the MetroWest Detention Center in Doral. Located at 13850 NW 41st St., the jail is the site of Miami-Dade's second large-scale solar installation project.
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The location was chosen based on a solar feasibility study of county buildings completed in 2018 as well as input from the Rocky Mountain Institute, a Colorado organization focused on sustainability research. MetroWest's flat rooftop in view of the sun makes it an ideal location to install solar panels, the county reports.
The solar installation will generate about a quarter of the building's total electricity supply, powering anything from lights to air conditioning.
Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said the installation is part of an effort to help the county reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
"This project showcases the latest step toward the county’s ambitious goals of safe, energy-efficient facilities that saves taxpayer dollars while reducing our carbon footprint," she said in an emailed statement to the Business Journal. “I am proud that Miami-Dade County is leading the way on renewable energy in our buildings."
The North Dade Regional Library in Miami Gardens was the site of Miami-Dade's first solar array, a collection of linked solar panels. Completed last April, the building's solar panels meet up to 85% of the structure's electricity usage needs, the county reports.
A third installation project at the South Dade Regional Library in Cutler Bay is expected to be completed later this year.
The county will also issue a solar energy request for proposal (RFP) this year to solicit bids from contractors to build more than 20 additional solar installations at county facilities. Those could include rooftop, ground mounted or floating solar panels.
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Florida is home to the third largest market for solar energy in the U.S, behind Texas and California. However, just 6 percent of the state's electricity is generated from renewable resources.
Miami-Dade is already making moves to boost its solar profile. In 2020, the county partnered with state utility Florida Power & Light to install 402 floating solar panels at the Blue Lagoon next to Miami International Airport. The half-acre site generates 160 kilowatts of power and prevents 165 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year, the county reports.
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