California Forever: Silicon Valley billionaires are secretively planning a new utopian tech city

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below

🗞️ Driving the news: Silicon Valley billionaires have recently unveiled their plans for a massive sustainable tech city, "California Forever", in Northern California
• The project aims to provide community development, employment opportunities, and green initiatives in Solano County

🔭 The context: Jan Sramek, a former Goldman Sachs trader, is at the helm of this venture, backed by notable names such as philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen
• With an investment of $800 million, they have been purchasing vast tracts of land under the company name, Flannery Associates LLC

🌎 Why it matters for the planet: The vision for California Forever includes large solar farms, new parks, and tens of thousands of new homes, emphasizing a sustainable future
• It could herald a future for urban development that is both eco-friendly and beneficial to local communities

⏭️ What's next: Before bringing their vision to life, the group needs the endorsement of Solano County voters to allow urban development on the purchased farmland
• The team is engaging locals through polls and community boards to gather opinions and support

📈 One stat: Since 2018, Flannery has acquired over 202 square km of farmland in Solano County, making it the largest single landholder in the area

Click for more news covering the latest on sustainable living