100% solar community in FL...

[kadee79]

Came out a LOT better than their neighbors!

Anthony Grande moved away from Fort Myers three years ago in large part because of the hurricane risk. He has lived in southwest Florida for nearly 19 years, had experienced Hurricanes Charley in 2004 and Irma in 2017 and saw what stronger storms could do to the coast.

Grande told CNN he wanted to find a new home where developers prioritized climate resiliency in a state that is increasingly vulnerable to record-breaking storm surge, catastrophic wind and historic rainfall.

What he found was Babcock Ranch — only 12 miles northeast of Fort Myers, yet seemingly light years away.

Babcock Ranch calls itself “America’s first solar-powered town.” Its nearby solar array — made up of 700,000 individual panels — generates more electricity than the 2,000-home neighborhood uses, in a state where most electricity is generated by burning natural gas, a planet-warming fossil fuel.

The streets in this meticulously planned neighborhood were designed to flood so houses don’t. Native landscaping along roads helps control storm water. Power and internet lines are buried to avoid wind damage. This is all in addition to being built to Florida’s robust building codes.

www.cnn.com/2022/10/02/us/solar-babcock-ranch-florida-hurricane-ian-climate/index.html

[Tiny]

When I was "house hunting" in Florida in 2019 (for an investment property - maybe a way to get a nephew into a house) my nephew brought up Babcock Ranch (as he knew I liked solar cooking and lean towards wise use of resources.)    

I looked at their "mission statement" and the types of housing available and I will admit it was intriguing.    Unfortunately it was out of my price range for an "investment property".   
But, I have to admit - if I had been looking for a home I would live in - Babcock Ranch had some houses in my price range (for a primary home) and I really liked the concept.  
I also felt it would be a better "retirement" kind of place for me - as it wouldn't just be "old people"      Like a retirement community or something as "awful" as the Village...   

I don't have anything against Old People (I'm an Old People).  I'd rather just be surrounded by people who don't all look like, behave like, talk like, think like,  I do.  variety is the spice of life.    

[kadee79]

Here is more on this community and some pictures at the link...

As Hurricane Ian battered Florida and left millions without power last week, one forward-thinking community managed to keep the lights on.



Babcock Ranch, a planned community of roughly 2,000 that bills itself as "America's first solar-powered town," skated through the storm without power loss or significant damage, CNN reported. A spokesperson for Babcock Ranch confirmed that residents didn't lose power.



The town — just north of Fort Myers — gets its electricity from an on-site, 870-acre solar array made up of 650,000 panels. The system produces more energy than the town consumes and includes batteries to supply power on cloudy days and at night.



Bonus solar panels on commercial rooftops and in public spaces boost energy generation. And some residents have installed panels on their homes, according to CNN. Babcock Ranch's website advertises a "life powered by the sun."

www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/america-s-first-solar-powered-town-was-a-hurricane-success-story-as-millions-of-other-floridians-lost-power-see-inside-babcock-ranch/ar-AA12ABss?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=96031bde77994c3087164a7f4a0ca309#image=AA12Avkm|11