Babcock Ranch is not the title of a brand new Netflix Tv Serie.
It is a town in Florida.
In 2005 Syd Kitson, chairman & CEO Kitson & Partners (and NFL player at Dallas Cowboys) set out to prove that smart growth and preservation could work hand in hand.
73,000 acres sold to the state for creation of Babcock Ranch Preserve remains the largest preservation land purchase in Florida History.
An innovative community with sustainability woven right into the infrastructure.
At Babcock Ranch, sustainability has been built right into the infrastructure. For residents, that adds up to a greener way of life that is affordbale and effortless.
Babcock Ranch donated the land for the solar facility – but it is owned and operated by Florida Power & Light (FPL). Residents are billed for the energy they use at the same rates as any other FPL customer. Savings come via the energy efficiency of homes that don’t need as much power to operate.
An on-site 75-megawatt solar photovoltaic array broke ground in 2016 by Florida Power & Light Company, which will combine with a network of solar rooftop arrays on commercial buildings[to generate more energy than the city consumes, making Babcock Ranch the first solar-powered city in the United States.
According to Florida Power & Light chief development officer Eric Silagy, the photovoltaic solar plant to be built at Babcock Ranch will occupy rooftops throughout the city plus 400 acres (1.62 km2; 0.63 sq mi) of land.
Babcock Ranch’s solar power plant will connect to the main grid so a consistent energy supply can be maintained by importing power on overcast days and exporting it on sunny days.
The objective in using a solar generator to power the city is a reduction in carbon emissions and dependence on oil, and to lower energy bills for residents, aided by proposed “smart home” energy efficiency technology.
Residents and businesses will utilize smart grid technology to monitor and control their energy consumption.
Ultimately Babcock Ranch will include 19,500 residences and will house about 50,000 people. Residences, will include condo and homes, with prices starting at $200,000 and ranging up to $900,000, according to the developers. The range of prices and housing options show that almost all can enjoy to opportunity of living in a solar-powered, sustainable community.
Still solar power is much more advanced in other parts of the country. For instance, entire cities in California like Santa Monica and San Francisco have established mandates requiring new buildings to install solar rooftops. But projects like Babcock Ranch show the potential of solar power even where it’s not required by state or local governments.
So, welcome to Babcock Ranch:
