Sunny City Up

America’s first solar city, from a former NFL player 7

Babcock RanchAn architect’s rendering of Babcock Ranch, the solar-powered city planned east of Fort Myers.Kitson and PartnersFlorida developer and former NFL lineman Syd Kitson sent out a coy press release Wednesday promising the biggest news in the history of press releases, to be revealed Thursday. And in truth … it’s sort of a big deal.

The housing collapse be damned, Kitson & Partners announces it will build a planned city near Fort Meyers with 19,500 homes, offices, retail shops, and light industry. Its electricity will come from the world’s largest solar voltaic power plant, a $300 million, 75-megawatt plant to be built on-site by Florida Power &  Light. That’s nearly twice as large as the current largest plant in Germany, says Time magazine.

The planned city—Babcock Ranch—will include a smart grid to let residents monitor and adjust their energy consumptions. More than half of its 17,000 acres will be permanently protected as greenways and open space, according to the Miami Herald.

I’ve been hearing something went wrong with the economy lately, plus maybe something about the housing market. Does Kitson know about this?

“Some people think I got hit in the head a few too many times,” he told Time. “But I still believe deeply in Florida. And the time has come for something completely different.”

Reports the Herald: “Kitson said all of the plans are contingent on the real-estate economy recovering, but he believes the green aspects of the project will entice many who will bypass traditional developments now in foreclosure.”

Construction for the solar plant could begin later this year, depending on approvals. Groundbreaking for the city center could begin next year.

“Solar is just the first step,” Kitson told reporters yesterday, according to Greenwire. “Babcock Ranch will be a true living laboratory of the new-energy economy ... where innovative companies can design, build and use the renewable and efficient technologies that customers across the country and around the globe will need.”

Much more back at the ranch, er, the ranch’s glitzy website. And it’s worth comparing to Abu Dhabi’s self-contained Masdar City.

Babcock RanchThe green, green roofs proposed for Babcock Ranch.Kitson and PartnersThe Herald has more backstory:

[Kitson bought] the 90,000-acre Babcock Ranch in 2006—an area five times the size of Manhattan.

After lengthy negotiations, he arranged to sell 73,000 acres to the state for about $350 million for what has become the Babcock Ranch Preserve, a permanent open space. He then worked with Charlotte County to develop the remaining 17,000 acres…

The Sierra Club’s Florida chapter fought Kitson earlier plans, but was won over by the current incarnation. “We were thrilled,” Florida staff director Frank Jackalone told the Herald.  “It provides a model for the country—a high benchmark for others to try to reach.’‘

Jonathan Hiskes is a Grist staff writer. He reports, tweets, eats, asks questions, self-promotes, looks out windows, and wonders if it could be like this.

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  1. Tasermons Partner Posted 6:38 pm
    10 Apr 2009

    Unless he plans to actually build those mid-rises himself, and then lease 'em, they will not end up lookin' like that.Most likely what will happen is that each plat of land will be sold under "guidelines" towards environmental design and green architecture, but each individual developer will decide how best to meet that criteria.

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  2. Tasermons Partner Posted 6:38 pm
    10 Apr 2009

    Unless he plans to actually build those mid-rises himself, and then lease 'em, they will not end up lookin' like that.Most likely what will happen is that each plat of land will be sold under "guidelines" towards environmental design and green architecture, but each individual developer will decide how best to meet that criteria.

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  3. Delay And Deny's avatar

    Delay And Deny Posted 7:17 pm
    10 Apr 2009

    And the perfect car to drive in the Solar City?http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/2678/69/Today at the New York Auto Show, the Honda FCX Clarity was named the World Green Car of the Year. It beat out competition from an initial list of 22 cars, but ultimately went up against other top 3 finalists the Mitsubishi iMiEV and the Toyota iQ.

    The FCX is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell...of course.

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  4. sidder Posted 6:59 pm
    12 Apr 2009

    that would be a awsome spot to live.

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  5. greengenie4 Posted 12:30 pm
    14 Apr 2009

    The future drowning solar city of USA... This is a great concept, but why put it in Florida of all places, and specifically on the COAST?! With sea-level rising half of the development is likely to be flooded by the end of the century. Isn't the point of a renewable energy/solar city to reap as much from the benefits of long-term sustainability as possible? Not to mention even though he's got the right idea as a developer, this would certainly not help the coastal marine ecosystem which is already at risk of collapse. Move the city inland, or better yet, OUT of Florida - the land of retirement communities and wasps.

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  6. briandi11 Posted 7:50 am
    16 Apr 2009

    As a FLA native and active environmentalist I am in complete disagreement with such a project. Does Florida need more housing? And if so will it be affordable housing for those who have been misplaced by hurricanes and foreclosure? Doubtful. Also how will a "mega development" help the environment? Even if it is solar powered, it takes loads of energy to make solar panels. Will they be hiring ONLY local subcontractors? And will these subcontractors be riding their bikes to work? Again doubtful. Where will all of the materials to build these home come from? I think this is the wrong direction for Florida and for the Country. Why not focus on retrofitting the millions of existing homes in Florida. Also this article does not mention that Kitson will be partnering with FPL who will raise most of the funds by raising customers monthly bill. This hardly seems fair. Oh and this is land aquired orginally for the intention of preservation...I guess it won't hurt to use 17,000 acres of natural habitat to build more in Florida!

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  7. Drunken Pixie Posted 6:01 pm
    16 Apr 2009

    It's a novel idea. Shame about the impractical location, though.

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