What’s being billed as the world’s first off-the-grid sustainable island destination has officially launched off the coast of Eleuthera in the Bahamas.
It’s called STAR Island Bahamas, with STAR short for Sustainable Terrain and Resources, and it held its grand opening over the weekend with transport help from Tropic Ocean Airways.
A 35-acre cay, the green island runs on solar power, produces pure drinking water and even has organically grown food.
The project is the brainchild of David Sklar, an “eco-tect” out of Bluffton, South Carolina.
“Our development priorities will include showcasing the latest clean technologies, sustainable products and green building, all with an eye to being able to scale and replicate the project,” he said. “We envision the island as a blueprint for the future, reducing the learning curve for others in the fight against pollution of the planet and climate change.”
The first phase of the project includes The Beach Bar & Grill, along with beach cabanas and an organic garden.
Visitors can eat lunch by the beach, along with activities like bonefishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling and birdwatching.
The island is now bookable for private events like weddings or meetings.
STAR Island will open its first overnight accommodation unit, “The Nest,” a 650-square-foot suite just off the beach, in May.
Phase two of the project will include beachfront bungalows and an expansion of the island’s power and water systems, along with the construction of a hydroponic greenhouse and aquaculture program.
STAR has embarked on a partnership with Tropic Ocean Airways, which offers charter flights and scheduled flights from Florida to destinations across the Bahamas.