A great place for the first solar powered city in the U.S.

The first solar powered city in the U.S., called Babcock Ranch, will be 100% powered by the Sun.  The 20,000 home community will be located near Fort Meyers, Florida, on the gulf coast of the Sunshine State.  Babcock Ranch is a joint venture between a utility – Florida Power & LIght – and a developer, Kitson & Partners.

In addition to thousands of homes, more than 6 million square feet of retail, office and light industrial space is also included at Babcock Ranch.  Future-looking from its inception, the first solar powered city in the U.S. will have wireless Internet throughout, as well as plug-in electric vehicle charging stations.

Solar panels catch the sun in Florida

During the day, Babcock Ranch will run on 100% solar energy.  In fact, so much power is expected to be produced that excess clean electricity can be sold back into the grid.

The CEO of Kitson said the project will serve as a model to other communities and be a “living laboratory for companies, workers and families ready to reap the rewards of innovation.”

You might be wondering when you can move to this solar community?  Construction is currently scheduled to start a year from now, in the summer of 2010.  And talk about green jobs!  More than 20,000 people will gain clean, green employment from working at Babcock Ranch.

I wonder if we’re going to have to wait for the success of the first solar powered city in the U.S. before more are planned, permitted and constructed?  I sure hope not.