The perks of America’s first solar-powered town

People may move to Florida to soak in the sun, but Babcock Ranch takes this idea to a new level as the first solar-powered community in the US. In addition to eliminating your electric bill, this town (about 20 miles from Fort Myers) is designed to improve your health with an extensive network of bike paths, walkways, and social events so that newcomers get to know their neighbors and cultivate a support network. Here’s how Babcock Ranch’s founder, Syd Kitson, CEO of Kitson & Partners, built this new type of town.

What inspired you to build Babcock Ranch? “My vision was born out of a passion for the environment and an aspiration to leave the Earth better than when I came into it. I set out to create the most resilient community in Florida and prove that creating a model for sustainable development is possible. Babcock Ranch illustrates to the world that building with nature—not against it—is possible, scalable, and financially accessible to all.”

What challenges did you face? “After the 91,000-acre Babcock Ranch property was purchased in 2006, the hurdle was showing ‘proof of concept’ for a type of town that had never been built. In 2008, Babcock Ranch secured a commitment for solar generation from Florida Power & Light (FPL), but legislative approval was needed because solar was not cost-competitive with traditional natural gas–generating plants. Legislative requests failed, delaying construction until 2015 when solar generation costs became comparable to fossil fuels, eliminating the need for legislative approval. We spent 12 years carefully planning the community. Initially, national homebuilders were hesitant about Babcock Ranch’s green building and sustainability standards. Smaller and regional builders were the first to buy in, and their early success demonstrated there was demand to get the national builders on board with the project.”

When did people start moving in? “The first residents moved in in January 2018. By the end of 2025, the town is expected to have 15,000 residents. Babcock Ranch offers sustainably built single-family homes, townhomes, condos, villas, and coach homes for sale starting in the high-$200s to over $1 million. [There are] two rental home neighborhoods with monthly rent starting in the mid-$1,000s, which allow residents to live in a sustainably focused town without the immediate financial investment of home ownership. And we’re continuously evolving, planning for 20,000 residences, 60,000 people, and six million square feet of commercial space with an array of shopping, dining, entertainment, recreation, health care, and services.”

How much of the town’s energy do the solar panels provide? “The town generates more clean energy than the town consumes and is one of the few places in Florida where you can see FPL solar energy centers, solar trees, electric vehicle charging stations, and battery storage in one place. All homes receive a Bronze Standard of Certification or higher from the Florida Green Building Coalition, which makes them exceptionally energy-efficient.”

Do you live in the community? “Yes, I am a proud resident, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to see this vision come to fruition around me. Some of the most notable aspects are how the town was thoughtfully designed with health and wellness at its core, with a walkable design and 50% of the footprint dedicated to greenways, parks, and lakes. Many of our residents relocated here in search of a healthier lifestyle. One resident, after a car accident, was told her injuries would leave her with 60% use of one leg. She relocated here and now defies these odds, running three to eight miles every day in the trail network. Another resident faced with the tragedy of losing his wife six months after moving [here] turned to the outdoors to heal, spending 340+ days a year training for competitive races and ultra marathons in our nature paths. He credits his hobby and the outpour of support from the community for helping him navigate his journey through grief.”