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Arabs Building First Green City

Run on solar power, Masdar City will cost $22 billion and take 8 years to construct

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Feb 10, 2008 5:14 PM CST

(Newser) – Earth's first carbon-free city is being built in the United Arab Emirates and will take 8 years and $22 billion to complete, the BBC reports. Called Masdar City, it will run on solar power and shuttle residents on travel pods via magnetic tracks. But critics say the $22 billion project, funded by the city of Abu Dhabi, belies the oil-rich emirate's overall gobbling of resources.

A green city of 50,000 residents and 1,500 businesses would also do little to reduce Abu Dhabi's sky-high oil consumption, and will likely become a hermetic haven for the rich, experts say. The city is nonetheless part of a $15 billion, 5-year green plan and will monetize all of its carbon cutbacks. "Such innovative financing has never been applied to the scale of an entire city," Masdar's chief exec said.

From left to right, UAE Minister of Energy Mohammad bin Dhaen Al Hamli, U.S. Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman and Vivienne Cox Chief Executive of BP Alternative Energy take part at the keynote session 1 of World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Jan.21,...
From left to right, UAE Minister of Energy Mohammad bin Dhaen Al Hamli, U.S. Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman and Vivienne Cox Chief Executive of BP Alternative Energy take part at the keynote session 1...   (Associated Press)
U.S. President George W. Bush, left, meets with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Shiek Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, right, at the Saadiyat Island Cultural District Exhibition and Masdar Exhibition at the Emirates Palace Hotel, Monday, Jan. 14, 2008 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Behind them on the right...
U.S. President George W. Bush, left, meets with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Shiek Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, right, at the Saadiyat Island Cultural District Exhibition and Masdar Exhibition at the Emirates...   (Associated Press)
Masdar City is the largest sustainability project ever launched by a government.
Masdar City is the largest sustainability project ever launched by a government.   (Getty Images)
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