Babcock Ranch garners Shine on Florida recognition with solar-powered streetlights
Babcock Ranch has added solar-powered streetlights to the community.
“At Babcock Ranch, our goal is to lead the way in sustainable development and key partners like Streetleaf, with their incredible expertise in solar street lighting, are an important part of making that possible,” Chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners and Babcock Ranch developer Syd Kitson said in a prepared statement. “Streetleaf’s innovative approach aligns perfectly with our commitment to building a community that sets new standards for sustainability, innovation and resilience.”
Liam Ryan, CEO at Streetleaf, said they are a solar streetlight company based in Tampa that was born out of a development company needing streetlights, but running into problems with the installation of electric streetlights.
“We developed it ourselves for just one project,” he said of a development in Wesley Chapel.
What began in 2019 has now expanded to a little more than 10,000 systems, 8,900 of which are in Florida.
Each light is solar, and battery powered, rather than running on a conduit and wire.
“Each system is a stand-alone unit. When the power is down, the lights stay on,” Ryan said.
Babcock Ranch currently has 110 Streetleaf streetlights.
“We will see if we can expand that partnership from there,” Ryan said.
Those installments include illuminating the PKWY at Babcock Ranch, and six parks — Bluebird Park, Hillcrest Park, The Lagoon, Explorers Park, Bark Park, and Palmetto Park.
The partnership will include four phases. The first phase was completed in the fall of 2024, while the other three are planned by the end of 2025. The installation, lighting, routine maintenance, and 24/7 monitoring is provided by Streetleaf.
There is also the ability to attach security cameras for safety, as well as banners to each pole.
With this addition, Babcock Ranch has been recognized as a Shine on Florida community. The statewide program is hosted by Streetleaf in an effort to encourage local leaders and businesses to install the hurricane resilient streetlight for safety and light.
“We are bringing modern technology that has been neglected with streetlights for 50 years,” Ryan said, adding that LED lights are decades old. We want to “modernize streetlights and make them easy and useful for everyone.”
More information about Streetleaf or about Shine On Florida.
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This story appears in the latest issue of the North Fort Myers Neighbor Living magazine, available at locations throughout North Fort Myers.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com