Babcock Ranch ‘solar powered city’ making plans to break ground

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.- It’s been years in the making but ‘Southwest Florida’s city of the future’ is very close to becoming a reality. The project, to essential build a self-sustainable city on Babcock Ranch near Punta Gorda, will break ground within the year.

Kitson & Partners say the key piece they needed has now been taken care of; Florida Power and Light will build a 75 mega watt solar powered generating facility on the ranch.

“Before people were wondering ‘gee when is this actually going to start’ and when the downturn hit everything really was on hold for obvious reasons but as we’re going forward here I think a lot of people are very anxious to see exactly how this turns out,” said Syd Kitson, CEO of Kitson & Partners.

Kitson say they will always be producing more energy than they’re using–making it the first ‘solar city’ in the world. The first phase of the project will include roads, trails, thousands of homes, a downtown area and a K-12 school.

WINK News spoke  to neighbors about this today; some were concerned about State Road 31 not being able to handle more traffic. Others say they’re excited and think the development will raise the value of their home.