Oct 13, 2022 | Upward Mobility Signals
When Hurricane Ian decimated the west coast of the Florida peninsula in late September 2022, virtually wiping out Ft. Meyers, the community called Babcock Ranch, to its immediate north, came through with hardly a scratch. How could that be? Apparently the community was designed for success – by former Green Bay Packer lineman, Syd Kitson of Kitson and Partners! It was meant to accommodate Florida’s climate and ecosystem, offering some forward-thinking features:
- indigenous plants and natural waterways for drainage
- built 25 to 30 feet above sea level to help mitigate flooding from storm surges
- sustainable water and sewage systems
- all electric and phone lines buried
Interviewed on 60 Minutes, Kitson said, “We are the first solar-powered town in America. We have a solar field that’s 150 megawatts.” The solar field “features a massive solar array of 700,000 panels, built by Florida Power and Light. Those panels withstood Ian’s brutal beating.
“There’s a lot of water, but you don’t see a single panel that’s been dislodged. And there was quite a bit of wind that came through here over the last few days,” Kitson reported. “Gusts of over 150, and it did not take a single panel out of here, which is really just remarkable.”
Babcock Ranch community was planned to be the first solar-powered city in the country, expecting to have the world’s largest solar power array when completed. Commercial buildings and homes were designed to be energy efficient and constructed to the standards of the Florida Green Building Coalition. A tech center with an emphasis on research and development for clean energy was a key feature at Babcock Ranch from the outset.
The message is clear: Instead of climate denial, Syd Kitson has capitalized on climate change in his development. Now, through proof of his success, he has the opportunity to maximize his growth on real estate development – a huge win for him and his home owners, whose equity increased nearly overnight due to his foresight in development. This is a prime example of a foresight strategy – out of the box early.
Learn more here: Babcock Branch Real Estate and “Babcock Ranch: Solar-powered “hurricane-proof” town takes direct hit from Hurricane Ian, never loses electricity”
Sep 25, 2022 | Strategic Foresight
by Steve McCarthy, Executive Director
If you’re seeking a real-life, practical application of strategic foresight to a meaningful situation with which we can all relate, look no further than the war in Ukraine!
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Sep 25, 2022 | Strategic Foresight
Meet the sixth Envision Strategic Foresight cohort, including representatives from local businesses (Schneider, KI, Packer Fastener, and Lindquist Machine Corp.), government (Oneida Nation), education (University of Wisconsin Green Bay, GRACE Schools, and Notre Dame Academy), and nonprofits (Aging and Disabilities Resource Center, The Richard Mauthe Center, and Casa ALBA Melanie). They met for the first time on September 9, 2022, at the Automobile Gallery.
Sep 19, 2022 | Signals to Watch
Phil Hauck, Envision Board member
Remember World Futures Day, March 1, 2022? Vicki Loomes of TrendWatching spent a good bit of time helping us understand the most unfamiliar “metaverse.” Well, guess what: It’s here! It’s now at Horizon 1.5 and imminent.
Want proof? Check out this link from America’s Got Talent (September 13, 2022) for a demo by a group called “MetaPhysics.” Here’s how it works: Place a camera driven by physical-look AI software in front of a somewhat-look-alike person, and you will project Elvis Presley live on screen, singing “You Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog” – or even a song he never did sing. You can include Simon Cowell singing along with Elvis and Heidi and Sofia as backup singers!
Want a better explanation? The MetaPhysics team explained it here. Amazing!
Now, might it come to Green Bay soon? Probably not too soon, but it’s clearly in the sights of PMI Entertainment, which brings groups to the Resch Center and the Meyer Theater. PMI CEO Brendan Bruss wrote in a recent Horizons article that, as PMI seeks ideas from the marketplace, the industry or even PMI could create small concerts pairing a deceased singer with Abba, for example! Stay tuned; the metaverse is on its way.
Sep 1, 2022 | Horizons Newsletter by Envision
Click here for the September 2022 Horizons Newsletter by Envision. Discover how Resurrection Catholic Church is benefiting as a result of its leaders being trained in Strategic Foresight, transitioning from “Not in My Back Yard” to “Build in My Back Yard,” and suggested readings by Envision Board members.
Aug 26, 2022 | Housing and Safety Signals
Tom Schumacher, Envision Board
The supply of affordable housing has not kept pace with the needs of homeowners and renters. Zoning and permitting are factors that limit and delay new construction. Two recent signals point to future improvements in the supply of affordable housing.
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Aug 26, 2022 | Envision Success Stories
Dave Wegge, Envision Board
Early this year, as Envision was recruiting community leaders to enroll in our Strategic Foresight Workshop, I was surprised and encouraged to see four leaders from Resurrection Catholic Parish registered. Most parishes are steeped in tradition and simply trying to maintain the work they are faced with each day. Resurrection Parish was obviously quite different, as they were seeking to focus on the future of their parish, hoping to create their future.
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Aug 25, 2022 | From our Leadership
By Phil Hauck, Board President, Envision
The Green Bay area’s population is bound to be significantly larger (400,000?) by 2035. This growth will be driven by climate migration from other parts of the U.S. due to: excessive heat, drought, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and fires; the very high cost of living elsewhere; and the recent trend of remote working.
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Aug 25, 2022 | From our Leadership
Steve McCarthy, Executive Director, Envision
Envision Greater Green Bay has trained nearly 100 local leaders in strategic foresight from more than 50 organizations, and that number will grow by 25-30 people annually. In a few years, Northeast Wisconsin could reach a tipping point in strategic foresight. No longer will futuring be a discipline for just some organizations: It will be a required skill for anyone responsible for securing their organization’s preferred future. And in a few years after that, perhaps our area’s school systems will have incorporated strategic foresight into their curricula.
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Jul 7, 2022 | Horizons Newsletter by Envision
Click here for the July 2022 Horizons Newsletter by Envision. Meet Ryan Good, whose life outlook matches his last name(!), explore happiness factors in the world’s populations and the redefintion of poverty by Envision Board members Gratzia Villarroel and Heidi Selberg, respectively, and discover recommended foresight information sources.
