This Fully Solar-Powered Town In Florida Will Have Self-Driving Cars

A small town in southwest Florida is set to become the most sustainable town in America. Or the entire world, for that matter.

Babcock Ranch, with its land area of 18,000 acres, is a small town taking bold steps towards a cleaner future. In about a year’s time, it is expected that the town will be running entirely on solar power. This will be possible with the use of a 443-acre power plant. Reports also tell us that over half of the total land area will be used for parks, lakes, trails, and other green spaces.

Real estate firm Kitson & Partners is working on making Babcock Ranch the most sustainable town in America.

Kitson & Partners, the real estate development firm running the project, even pointed out that the design will not incur additional utility costs for the future residents. The plans confirm that Babcock Ranch will be built besides the Babcock Ranch Preserve and the Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management area.

The project aims to make the entire town dependent on solar power.

Syd Kitson, CEO of Kitson & Partners, said that they approached the project knowing that they’re not only creating a solar energy-dependent building but that it includes homes, offices, restaurants, and all other establishments that use cooling, heat, and electricity.

Aside from restaurants, schools, and other establishments, the area will also have parks, lakes, and trails.

The project’s first phase of over 1,000 residences is expected for completion by 2017. After that, Kitson & Partners will work on building cafes, restaurants, schools, clothing stores, and other shops.

By the time the rest of the 18,000 residences are built, the town will rely heavily on the 75-megawatt Babcock Ranch Solar Energy Center. Eric Silagy, president and CEO of Florida Power & Light (FPL), said Babcock Ranch is just the beginning. In the long run, they hope to make the entire Florida a solar-powered state.

Additionally, Babcock Ranch plans to have self-driving cars for public and private use.

Another exciting thing to look forward to, of course, is the inclusion of shared driverless vehicles that will be used to transport people and goods through Babcock Ranch. Kitson likewise mentioned that potential home buyers are looking at the price range of $200,000 to about $1 million if they want to purchase properties in the area.