"A Washington-based technology company announced plans Tuesday to
build a 20-square-mile model metropolis that would be used to test
everything from renewable energy innovations to intelligent traffic
systems and next-generation wireless networks. The replica city would be capable of supporting a population of 350,000, but would be the state's newest ghost town."
from The Huffington Post
You know, I wish I knew more about what they were planning to do here. There is an old model of a planned development based in solar principles at Arcosanti and it has been around for decades. A colleague and friend is the brand new ED and they are talking about getting some social research off the ground there. It would be interesting for us to consider what we would want to do with a planned development that has existed for decades. Want to talk about this in class together?
ReplyDeleteSure - the part I found most interesting about this was trying to figure out exactly what they would do with it. By the way, they're calling the project "The Center," which has a bit of an ominous ring to it I think.
ReplyDeleteI was also intrigued, so I searched a little and found this in Newser:
ReplyDelete"The CEO of Pegasus Global Holdings gives one example of The Center's many potential uses: Solar technology developers could test their systems in one home whose heating system is set at 78, and another that is set at 68. There will also be a mix of new and old buildings, for further diversification. The price tag for this scientific playground, which will be housed on state-owned land, either in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe corridor or in the Las Cruces area? $200 million. But once it's up and running it will make money, by selling energy to the grid and charging fees to those using it." 9/7/11
I hope this does not add to the water problems of the region.
I read this article last week too. My first thought was, "wow, thats sustainable. Let's build a city where no one lives so we can test how it will work. How will we know if no one is there."
ReplyDeleteJessica,
ReplyDeleteThat's a "keeper!"
Nora