Our Story - A Message From Our Founder & CEO

My time at Tesla was an eye opening and transformative experience. I held a variety of sales related positions over a two year period, but by far my most consequential role was as a Tesla Energy Advisor. Every day I would consult with Florida homeowners and pitch the benefits of installing Tesla solar panel and Powerwall 2 batteries on their existing homes. It was a challenge, and most people didn’t qualify based on their roof type, structural issues, electrical inefficiencies, etc. By understanding the qualifications for solar to get the best value and energy efficiencies from the panels, I learned the ideal new home construction roof requirements for solar homes.

Tesla wasn’t working or partnering with developers for new home construction, so I found a niche to branch out on my own. With the advice and consul of realtors, developers, and colleagues at Tesla, I started my own company to do what no other developer had done yet in Florida. I wanted to build green, self-powered smart homes from the ground up with the understanding that the roof pitch and position would optimize solar energy generation; at the same time, by looking at the construction process, there were ways to recycle materials as well as mitigate environmental degradation through carbon neutrality.

Thus, Bennett Development was founded in 2018. Miami’s historic Coconut Grove has had a resurgence of green homes, but Bennett Development is the first to market and offer a Tesla Powerwall 3 powered townhouse with solar, aiming to achieve LEED Platinum Certification. Our Plaza Street development is the first proof of concept, from which we can leapfrog to larger sustainable development residential projects.

— James Bennett, Founder & CEO