Perhaps this is the first of many solar powered cities. It sounds like a good idea, don't you think? Meet Babcock Ranch. It's touted as the World's first solar powered town. I remember visiting the Babcock Ranch right before the State of Florida purchased its 73,000 acres in 2006. Back then, you could take a tour. Hop on a swamp buggy type, open air bus through pine flatbeds, dry prairies and cypress domes. You could see the landscape change right before your eyes. The highlight of the tour was a stop over creek where one of the tour guides would dangle chicken from the side of the bus. What do you think happened next? Alligators catapulting out of the water to to chomp on the chicken. So, that was then and this is now.
(Photo credit: http://southwestflorida.momexplores.com)
Now, an eco-friendly community has been carefully designed and construction has begun. The developers purchased 18,000 acres intent on building a town that would be in sync with the preserved lands. According to Babcock Ranch's website, "key design and development strategies that support this initiative include: solar energy, water efficiency, native plants and materials, sustainable local materials, tree preservation and relocation, and Florida Green Building standards."
So how does it work? According to a handout I given when I visited the project, Babcock Ranch donated land to Florida Power and Light (FPL) for the solar facility. They harness the the solar power and then resident s are billed for the energy they use, at the same rates as other FPL customers. The town also utilizes natural gas as another effective energy saving tool. When the sun goes down, electricity is pulled from the closest natural gas power plant. The savings on energy bills come from the energy efficient homes and commercial buildings being constructed.
The innovative town also provides FREE, yes, free WiFi with state of the art fiber optics. The design is impressive. Although the town is in its infancy, it's worth a visit. I toured the models and enjoyed lunch at the Table & Tap Restaurant at the town center. My view included a beautiful lake and a half dozen or so people on the paddle boards participating in a paddle board yoga class.
