The ongoing search for a new home for Miami-Dade County's waste-to-energy incinerator continues as Commissioner Juan Carlos Bermudez throws his support behind a new proposal. The plan, which involves a land swap deal, has been put forth by Terra Group, a development firm. They’ve offered up a 65-acre site off Okeechobee Road near Northwest 137th Avenue—a location that Bermudez believes could be the remedy to the community's concerns surrounding the project, as per Local 10.
Following the closure of the Doral incinerator due to fire damage in February 2023, Miami-Dade has been considering several potential locations. Early studies by Arcadis presented three alternatives: the original Doral location, a site nearer to Medley, and landing at Airport West near Opa-locka. However, the Terra Group's proposition represents a fourth, seemingly less disruptive, option. Speaking to Local 10, Bermudez mentioned, "there needs to be more thought on how the facility will impact traffic and air quality."
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has indicated that while the county is working on reducing waste, the construction of a new facility remains a key issue. According to a report by NBC Miami, she stated, "While we are working on reducing the amount of waste and coming up with alternatives. we are also looking at the possibility of a rebuild of a waste-to-energy site."
Although the suggested site by Terra lies near rock mining land and farther from residential areas, there are reservations from neighboring cities such as Miramar. The Mayor of Miramar, Wayne Messam, prepares for resistance, arguing that "Both sites present the same environmental profile; that is why it will meet the resistance not only from the city of Miramar but from environmental organizations such as the Tropical Audubon Society and the Everglades Coalition," as per his statement to NBC Miami. The Terra-proposed site is part of a larger potential exchange, where Miami-Dade County would allow the developer to use county-owned land along Northwest 58th Street between 87th and 97th avenues for development.
The issue continues to be a point of contention and is set for further discussion among the Miami-Dade commissioners later this month. Meanwhile, the city of Miramar has begun to prepare for possible legal actions against Miami-Dade County. Mayor Messam promises to present his arguments in the upcoming Miami-Dade Commission meeting scheduled for September 17, outlined in NBC Miami's report on the matter.
