Miami-Dade County is celebrating a third-place win in the 2024 Green Fleet Awards by the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA). This competition includes both government and commercial fleets and highlights those making significant efforts to be environmentally friendly. The awards recognize fleets for their sustainability and innovative practices that benefit the environment, according to the Miami-Dade County release.
Last year, Miami-Dade County’s Fleet Management Division was fourth, but this year they moved up to third place in the Green Fleet Awards. Competing against many fleets from North America, their achievement is impressive. They also ranked ninth in the "100 Best Fleets in the Americas" contest earlier this year. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava commented on the win, saying, "Thanks to ISD’s hard work and enduring dedication, our County continues to show the way forward as a leading community on climate action, sustainability and innovation." She emphasized that the awards reflect a broader approach included in her Climate Action Strategy. This strategy aims to electrify 100% of the light fleet by 2030, centralize vehicle purchases, improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and enhance fuel standards, as per the Miami-Dade County official website.
Yoamel Zequeira, head of ISD's Fleet Management Division, acknowledged that progress requires teamwork. He praised the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW) for their role in replacing old diesel buses with cleaner compressed natural gas and electric ones. Zequeira noted, "By replacing diesel buses with compressed natural gas and electric buses, DTPW ultimately reduced diesel consumption by 94%," he told Miami-Dade County News.
NAFA recognized ISD with a special award for Best Policies, Procedures, and Long-Term Planning in 2024. This recognition includes an invitation to share their success stories on a discussion panel at the Green Fleet Awards ceremony, helping others learn how to achieve similar eco-friendly results.
