Kelvin L. Baker, Sr., ICMA-CM and Rasheed McCallum
The City of Miramar marked a milestone in its sustainability efforts on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, with the grand opening of a new solar energy system at the Miramar 91TVwater Reclamation Facility. Residents and City officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting marking the launch of the City’s first renewable energy project. City Manager Dr. Roy L. Virgin said, “The project was conceived eight years ago,” reflecting a long-term effort to expand the City’s use of renewable energy.
The stakes behind this investment are significant. The City’s 91TVwater Reclamation Facility incurs approximately $1 million annually in energy costs and treats wastewater generated throughout the City, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The City’s broader goal is to reduce the facility’s reliance on the electrical grid as additional renewable energy strategies are implemented. The City’s long-term goal is to reduce the facility’s reliance on the electrical grid as additional renewable energy strategies are implemented. It was a bold move, made even more notable by its timing: State and federal funding for projects of this scale remains limited, meaning the city largely charted this course through its own initiative. That decision speaks to a deeper commitment — one that demonstrates Miramar’s continued investment in sustainable municipal operations.
To bring the vision to life, the city partnered with Advanced Green Technologies, Siemens Energy, and Florida Power & Light. The project didn’t stop at solar panels — it included a full replacement of the facility’s aging roof system, allowing the roof and solar infrastructure to be addressed as an integrated investment
A project of this nature does not come without challenges. It required detailed coordination with contractors and City staff while protecting critical infrastructure and maintaining uninterrupted facility operations.
One of the most significant construction challenges involved connecting electrical wiring from multiple roof areas and routing it underground to the main utility meter, located thousands of feet away in a separate building.
To reduce the risk of damaging the plant’s underground infrastructure, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted throughout the facility to identify existing utilities and other subsurface infrastructure. Once those areas were identified, crews carefully trenched around utilities, much of it by hand. Although this approach extended the installation schedule, the work was completed without damage to critical underground infrastructure.
The newly installed solar system is expected to generate approximately 317,000 kWh per year — equivalent to one month of the facility’s on-peak electricity consumption. To put that in perspective, this single project is equivalent to:
- Powering nearly 300 average Florida homes for one month
- Taking 50 gasoline-powered vehicles off the road
- The carbon absorption equivalent to 3,500 trees grown for 10 years
- Avoiding 213 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually
- Fully charging more than 2.5 million smartphones
This is more than a single facility going green — it’s proof of concept. City officials say this project is only the beginning. As Miramar continues to explore renewable energy opportunities across its municipal facilities, leaders hope this first phase will serve as a blueprint for what’s possible: lower operating costs, reduced environmental impact, and a city willing to lead by example. In taking this step, Miramar isn’t just cutting costs — it’s investing in a more resilient, sustainable future for the community it serves.