The remaining 18,000 acres would house Babcock Ranch. "We set out to create the most sustainable, the most resilient, and the most innovative new town that's ever been developed," Kitson says.

But the lights stayed on in Babcock Ranch. “It certainly exceeded our expectations of a major hurricane,” Grande, 58, told CNN. A damaged building is seen in Babcock Ranch after Hurricane Ian.

The SolarButterfly, a 30-foot, solar-powered, self-sustainable residential vehicle, visited Babcock Ranch—also known as America’s first solar-powered town—Monday afternoon, just as Hurricane ...

Babcock Ranch rests on higher ground than much of the surrounding area – at least 25 feet or more above sea level – which the ranch says is "beyond the reach of coastal storm surge." ...

Babcock Ranch is powered with the help of nearly 700,000 solar panels, which can create enough clean energy to power nearly 30,000 homes. Kitson said Hurricane Ian's winds didn't dislodge a single ...

A model home was opened at Babcock Ranch, pictured here in March 2017; the first residents moved into the new town the following year. Inset, An aerial view of Sanibel, Florida, taken on October 8; ...

Babcock Ranch, a town about 15 miles northeast of Fort Myers, bills itself as “the Hometown of Tomorrow” on its website, a claim bolstered by its ultra-resilient structures and high-tech ...

A lakefront park in Babcock Ranch, a community built to withstand climate-driven storms, ... But not every town can be built from the ground up and not every resident can afford a brand-new home.

Babcock Ranch also has a K-12 school, retail shops and a sports facility. Andrea Desky for CNBC Make It The couple put a deposit down on a house in Babcock Ranch in 2023.

Babcock Ranch calls itself “America’s first solar-powered town.” Its nearby solar array — made up of 700,000 individual panels — generates more electricity than the 2,000-home ...

But the lights stayed on in Babcock Ranch. “It certainly exceeded our expectations of a major hurricane,” Grande, 58, told CNN. A damaged building is seen in Babcock Ranch after Hurricane Ian.