Developer shrugs off recession, plots all-solar Fla. city

A Florida developer unveiled plans today to build the nation’s first solar-powered city — a cluster of homes, offices and factories less than 20 miles from Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast.

“Babcock Ranch” would be built on 17,000 acres in Charlotte and Lee counties, with more than half of the land set aside for nature preserves, agriculture and other open space. Florida Power & Light Co. would build a 75-megawatt solar photovoltaic array to supply electricity to the development’s 6 million square feet of residential, industrial and retail buildings.

“The paradox down here is, if you don’t grow, you don’t get money for conservation,” Pattison said.

New York Times