Florida Planning Solar-Powered City
In the past couple of years, there have been quite a few plans unveiled around the world for fully sustainable cities and communities that run on a combination of renewable energies, but a new plan for a city in Florida would be the very first completely solar-powered city.
Florida is known for its sunny weather and solar projects have been successful there, so it makes sense that the state would stick to what it knows works. Utility Florida Power & Light is teaming up with Kitson & Partners to develop the 17,000-acre community called Babcock Ranch that will be near Fort Myers. The entire community will run off of a $300 million, 75 MW solar-powered generator.
The city will have a smart grid that will manage the energy used and generated and residents will have smart home features that allow them to monitor and control their energy use. Electric cars will have access to charging stations throughout the city and the street lamps will be solar powered too.
If this sounds like somewhere you'd like to live, you won't have to wait too long to move. Construction on the solar facility begins later this year and the city center will follow next year. The city will eventually include 19,500 homes, 6 million square feet of retail and light industrial space and 8,000 acres of green space. Beyond all the eco-friendly features of the new community, it also promises 20,000 permanent jobs. It sounds too good to be true, but I hope it isn't.
via: Inhabitat
