April 9th, 2009 · No Comments

Rendering: Kitson & Partners
This rendering of the Babcock Ranch project shows the solar panels and green roofs that will be used to manage energy needs.

From Green Right Now Reports

Real estate developer Kitson & Partners today announced an agreement with electric utility Florida Power & Light to build a large solar photovoltaic power plant at Babcock Ranch, Fla. – making it the “world’s first city powered by solar energy.”

Kitson & Partners said the 17,000-acre city of Babcock Ranch will consume less power than the proposed FPL on-site solar facilities will produce. The city also will be integrated with a “smart grid” that will provide greater efficiencies and allow residents and businesses to monitor and control their energy consumption.

The company said all commercial buildings and homes in the new city will be certified as energy-efficient and constructed according to Florida Green Building Council standards. The developers said over half of the project’s 17,000 acres will be permanently protected as greenways and open space. The planned city will be adjacent to the 73,000-acre Babcock Ranch Preserve, which was created by a conservation purchase of the state of Florida.

Babcock Ranch also will feature sustainable water management and conservation; street lamps designed to reduce light pollution; electric car chargers; and green roofs that reduce energy loss.

“We are extremely excited to build one of the world’s largest solar photovoltaic projects once the state legislative and regulatory authorities have taken the actions that would be required for us to move forward,” Eric Silagy, Florida Power & Light Company Chief Development Officer, said in a statement. “We believe large-scale solar projects like Babcock Ranch can yield significant environmental benefits to the people of Florida, create sustainable job growth and stimulate the local economy. With the continued support of Governor Crist, the Florida Legislature and the Public Service Commission, FPL is prepared to do much more in the coming years to build projects like Babcock Ranch and grow Florida’s renewable energy industry.”

When completed, Babcock Ranch will include 6 million square feet of retail, commercial, office, civic and light industrial space. Subject to State of Florida approvals, groundbreaking on the FPL solar facility is targeted for late 2009, with construction of the city center set for mid-2010, with construction of the first residential and commercial buildings in late 2010.

“I believe clean energy and sustainable development are the future of the American economy,” Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, said in a statement. “Babcock Ranch will be a living laboratory for companies, workers and families ready to reap the rewards of innovation. No other place in America will be home to such a concentration of new jobs and technologies, energy-saving advances and global economic leadership. I could not be more enthusiastic to be a part of this major step toward economic recovery and a sustainable future.”

A native landscaping program will cultivate plants and other crops on-site for landscaping use within Babcock Ranch, reducing the demand for water and eliminating the need to ship these products in from far-away locations. The city layout includes 40 miles of walkable paths and bikeable streets, to create a short, green commute to work.

Kate Johnson, National Clean Energy Representative for the Sierra Club, said the project has the potential to influence other U.S. cities. “Now is the time to rethink how we can make development work for everyone,” said Johnson. “Babcock Ranch has the potential of showing America that you can have a vibrant, prosperous community without sacrificing Florida’s clean air and water. Our common fight against climate change will require exactly this kind of large-scale commitment to clean technology and sustainable development. We are proud to support Babcock Ranch as it leads the way in this new direction.”