According to the Sierra Club website, the 17,000 acre city will consume less power than the FPL on-site solar facilities will produce, allowing it to become the first city on earth to be powered by by zero emission solar energy. All of the commercial buildings and homes in Babcock Ranch will be certified as energy efficient by the Florida Green Building Council.
The city itself will feature sustainable water management and conservation, street lamps designed to reduce light pollution, electrical car chargers and an integrated smart grid system, and green roofs that minimize building energy requirements. Homes, parks, offices and shops will all be within walking distance. Kind of sounds like an eco-friendly Celebration, huh?
These 17,000 acres are also surrounded by 72,000 acres of natural conservation. The Babcock Ranch Preserve will be facilitated by the real estate investment group, Kitson & Partners whom focus on sustainable communities.
Subject to State of Florida approvals, the FPL solar facility is targeted for late 2009, with construction of the city center expected to begin in mid-2010.
For more information about this ’sun city of tomorrow’, please check out the Babcock Ranch official website
