America's 'first Solarpowered Town' Was A Hurricane Success Story As Millions Of Other Floridians Lost Power

In Florida, Hurricane Ian left 4 million consumers without power.
But one community was largely unaffected by the Category 5 storm, CNN reported.
Babcock Ranch, a planned city built around sustainability and renewable energy, kept its lights on during the storm.

When a hurricane hit Florida last week, leaving millions without power, one progressive community managed to keep the lights on.

Babcock Ranch, a community of about 2,000 that bills itself as "America's first solar-powered city," weathered the storm without losing power or sustaining major damage, according to CNN. A Babcock Ranch spokeswoman confirmed that residents had not lost power.

The city, located north of Fort Myers, gets its electricity from an 870-acre solar system with 650,000 panels. The system generates more power than the city uses and includes batteries to provide electricity on cloudy days and at night.

Babcock Ranch. Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Additional solar panels on commercial rooftops and public spaces increase energy production. And some residents have installed panels in their homes, CNN reported. The Babcock Ranch website advertises "Sun Life".

Most of Florida's electricity is generated by natural gas power plants. According to Reuters, more than 4 million Florida customers were without power due to 150 mph winds and heavy rain. Around 400,000 homes and businesses remained without power on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

While solar power is the backbone of Babcock Ranch, the community as a whole is designed with a focus on sustainability and resilience to climate change.

The roads are designed to reduce the risk of flooding. The city was built in the middle of a storm. Babcock High School's new field house serves as a storm shelter.

Babcock High School serves as a storm shelter. kitson and associates

The city's power and internet cables were buried to protect them from the wind, CNN reported. Nearly half of the city is given over to parks, lakes, and greenways.

Residents told CNN that Young is proof that the Babcock Ranch concept can withstand high tides.

"We have proof of this now because [the storm] passed right over our heads," one resident told CNN. "We have water, electricity, internet, and we're the only really lucky ones in Southwest Florida."

America's 'first Solarpowered Town' Was A Hurricane Success Story As Millions Of Other Floridians Lost Power — See Inside Babcock Ranch

From the Archives: Original 60 Minute Report on Solar Power, 1979

Contact Form