NEWS

NEWS

February 12, 2021

Babcock Ranch named 2021 Edison Awards finalist

By: Vicki Parsons - IT

International competition honors game changing innovations 

February 12, 2021

Contact: Lisa Hall

(850) 508-7782

lhall@kitsonpartners.com

BABCOCK RANCH, FL – Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town located in Southwest Florida, is among an elite group of finalists for the 2021 Edison Awards – an annual competition honoring the world’s top innovations and innovators.

Established in 1987, The Edison Best New Product Awards™ recognizes excellence in new product and service development, marketing, human-centered design, innovation excellence and leadership. The competition is open to innovative organizations across the globe and each year, the diverse field of finalists ranges from small start-ups to Fortune 500 companies and everything in between. Awards are given in 14 categories and numerous sub-categories which reflect the emerging innovations of each year. Babcock Ranch has been named a finalist as a game-changer in the category of sustainability.

Built with respect for the environment, half of Babcock Ranch’s 18,000-acre footprint is set aside as greenways, parks and lakes. The town leverages economies of scale and innovative technologies to make greener living affordable, and effortless. All homes and buildings must meet Florida Green Building Coalition standards, and Babcock Ranch meets 100% of all irrigation needs with reclaimed water from its own water and wastewater utility. Florida Power & Light solar fields with more than 688 thousand panels across 870 acres at the northern edge of town generate 150mw of clean, renewable energy. The utility-scale solar generation makes Babcock Ranch a great fit for innovative companies that are serious about shrinking their energy footprint.

“We set out to create a whole new model for smart, sustainable growth and it is extremely gratifying to have our efforts recognized,” said Syd Kitson, Chairman & CEO of Kitson & Partners and the Founder of Babcock Ranch. “Our full potential as a game changer rides on our ability to inspire others in the US and around the world to grow more responsibly. We are proving that doing right for the planet doesn’t have to cost more and, in fact, it can give you a competitive advantage.”

Babcock Ranch is the first new town designed from the ground up with sustainability as its core principle. The master plan includes 19,500 homes and 6 million square feet of commercial and community uses to accommodate an estimated population of 50,000. Learn more at www.babcockranch.com.

The Edison Awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods and innovative achievements changed the world. This year the Edison Awards winners will be announced and celebrated April 21-23, 2021 in Fort Myers, Florida – the winter home of Thomas Alva Edison.

The diverse group of 2021 finalists represents game-changing new products and services from around the world including: Australia, China, Canada, Israel, Russia, UAE, South Korea, United Kingdom, Germany, and throughout the United States. For a complete list of the 2021 Edison Awards finalists go to https://edisonawards.com/finalists2021.php.