NEWS
October 04,2022 - Babcock Ranch in Florida Survives Hurricane Ian, Solar Power Helped Avoid Power Loss
Its technology should have applications all over the country.
Babcock Ranch and Punta Gorda both survived Hurricane Ian with little damage, thanks to robust building codes and good planning.
Florida’s Babcock Ranch is “America’s first solar-powered town,” and not only did it supply power to homes during the onslaught of Hurricane Ian in the past weeks. It also provided protection from flooding and destruction which was evident in nearby areas like Fort Myers and other counties in Florida, as well as other parts of the country.
Not only is the neighborhood sustainable, but it also is resilient to the “acts of God” natural calamities.
(Photo : Babcock Ranch via Twitter)
Babcock Ranch is a neighborhood that is 12 miles northeast of Fort Myers, Florida, and it is located in the coastal area of the state, but was able to survive the devastating force of Hurricane Ian. According to CNN, the community was able to survive its first disastrous Hurricane which wrecked nearby communities and counties in the state.
Additionally, the streets and roads were designed to endure the floods and avoid entering people’s homes, with its landscape also working to minimize damage or flooding in the area.
Is This the US’ First Solar-Powered Town?
There were claims that this is “America’s first solar-powered town,” and it stayed true to the claim as individual solar panels surround the area and is more than enough to power homes. Additionally, battery packs were recommended for home installation to ensure that residents would not experience any power loss in the area.
Solar and Smart Cities
We live in an era where people adopt modern changes and applications to cities where people may reside, or create areas and communities which is sustainable on their own. Making a smart city is a massive challenge for the likes of architects and city planners, as well as engineers and tech developers in the present time.
One of the most likely changes to do for smart cities now is to plan cities that would embody a self-sustaining neighborhood, something which the USDOT previously held a challenge for developers.
Despite having the tech readily available from different manufacturers, the real challenge focuses on bringing a city to be self-sustainable in everything it does, and one of the most significant ones is to have areas where people may walk and avoid car use any more.
That and the presence of many technological advancements like solar panels to bring power to its entire neighborhood, ensure connectivity with 5G or WiFi, and many more features.
The Babcock Ranch truly is a work of art and careful city planning which turned it into a self-sustaining neighborhood whose solar panels were more than enough to power each home. It also presents strategic planning for all as it was also made to be disaster-resilient, evident with its recent survival of Hurricane Ian, and anticipating more in the future.
Written by Isaiah Richard