Appendix 4: "SMARTIE" goals for implementing climate Actions
SMARTIE goals are (Strategic, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic, Time-bound, Inclusive, and Equitable)
| # | Action | Draft SMARTIE goal, to be improved in project plan |
| Strategy 1: Achieve County-wide net Zero 2050 alignment | ||
| 1 | Measure Community GHG emissions every 5 years. The next inventories will be for 2024 (in 2025) and for 2029 (in 2030). | Action is a SMART goal. |
| 2 | Create a public dashboard to track Community CAP actions by the end of 2025. Post public updates on Community CAP actions at least once annually. | Action is a SMART goal. |
| 3 | Create forecast of estimated emissions reductions through 2050 based on Community CAP actions by 2025 | Action is a SMART goal. |
| 4 | Washoe County will write and implement a County Operations Climate Action Plan | County Operations Climate Action plan to be approved by the Washoe County Commission by April 2025. Sustainability team to implement actions on the schedule defined in the plan. |
| 5 | Document the health impacts of air pollution and heat on Washoe County and its residents to improve public communication and success of grant applications. | By June 2025, calculate community return-on-investment (ROI) of at least 3 Community CAP actions, at least 1 with equity as the primary focus |
| 6 | In preparation for Waste Management franchise agreement negotiations in 2028 (current contract ends in 2030), identify strategies to reduce waste and waste-related emissions for the future. | By June 2027, define a zero waste strategy for the County and a list of the individual services needed to support zero waste, emphasizing services for communities of Environmental Justice concern. |
| 7 | By 2030, identify long-term funding strategy for transportation infrastructure in Washoe County that is not the gas tax. | In advance of 2031 state legislative session, identify legislative and policy actions needed to secure sustainable long-term funding for transportation infrastructure. Avoid "regressive" strategies that place disproportionate burden on low-income individuals. |
| 8 | Advocate that net zero 2050 be a foundational premise in RTC Washoe's "Regional Transportation Plan 2050" update in 2025. | Action is a SMART goal. |
| 9 | Share resources, advocate adoption of Net Zero 2050 policy with City of Sparks. | City of Sparks adopts Net Zero 2050 policy by 2030. |
| 10 | Amongst all businesses registered in Washoe County, grow the number of businesses with sustainability plans or green business certifications (eg Nevada Green Business Certification, etc.) to 70% by 2030. | Action is a SMART goal. Encourage money-saving sustainability upgrades, particularly for Disadvantaged-Owned Business Enterprises (DBEs). |
| 11 | Grow Washoe County Sustainability email list to an audience of 5,000. | Action is a SMART goal. Conduct outreach / invitations to community members in proportions that mirror the demographics of Washoe County. |
| 12 | Send a spotlight communication about Washoe County's Climate Action Activities at least quarterly. | Action is a SMART goal. - Updates to include information about how the County's Actions encourage equity. |
| 13 | Participate in at least two community events across the region each year to share information about Climate Action Planning and to hear residents' continued feedback. | Action is a SMART goal. - vary events and locations to expand access to County information and to increase the diversity of perspectives that the County hears. |
| 14 | Develop interactive communications that allow individuals to take climate action and spread knowledge with others. | By June 2026, identify interactive engagement strategy (eg ambassadors, local influencers; digital engagement), and secure budget to support community member training and / or campaign implementation across communities that mirror the demographics of Washoe County. |
| Strategy 2: Implement net zero land use principles | ||
| 15 | Advocate for a planning manager to be assigned to the Envision 2040 Master Plan by 2025 to facilitate implementation of the GHG-reducing elements of Envision 2040. | Action is a SMART goal. Once planning manager is in place, advocate to prioritize actions that have largest equitable impacts. |
| 16 | Support Tribes with their environmental stewardship and Land Use plans. | Requires discussion. |
| 17 | Partner with regional jurisdictions, agencies, stakeholders and citizens to launch a Community Forestry Program. Plant 4,700 more trees in Low-Income and Disadvantaged Communities (LIDACs) by 2030. | Action is a SMARTIE goal. |
| Strategy 3a: Reduce emissions, Transportation | ||
| 18 | Create an online hub to amplify information about alternatives to single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) for recurring trips. (eg Safe Routes to School, carpooling, existing transit or bicycle infrastructure) | Transportation hub of Sustainability website updated by June 2025. Plan should particularly focus on strategies that work in communities of Environmental Concern. |
| 19 | Create and distribute sustainable transportation guides for Washoe County’s 12 libraries, 49 parks, ~50 voting locations, and 14 buildings with walk-in services. | Sustainable transportation guides for all County facilities online by June 2026. |
| 20 | Pursue a Trip Reduction Ordinance for Washoe County | Bring a Trip Reduction Ordinance to Washoe County Commission by 2027. |
| 21 | Align regional efforts to reduce SOV trips to the region's top employment areas (eg Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center (TRIC), Reno / Sparks casinos, Lake Tahoe recreation) | Document existing trip-reduction efforts by June 2025; identify gaps and possible upgrades by June 2026; fund upgrades by 2030. |
| 22 | Expand reliable broadband across Washoe County to enable more telecommuting. | Implement the County's Digital Equity strategy by 2030. |
| 23 | Work with transportation and tourism partners to educate visitors about car-free ways to enjoy Reno, Sparks, Lake Tahoe, and other points of interest in and around Washoe County | By 2025, Sustainable transportation guidance is listed major tourism websites; by 2026, a collaborative communications plan is designed to fill gaps in sustainable transportation and to make Washoe County a more accessible destination for visitors. |
| 24 | Support and accelerate RTC Washoe's Walk and Roll plan by seeking grant funding, collecting data to accelerate the 12 neighborhood plans being designed by 2030. | At least 6 neighborhood plans implemented by 2030; Plans for the remaining neighborhoods to have a completion timeline of 2032 or earlier. |
| 25 | By 2026, create a regional plan for an equitable network of EV chargers; by 2028, create a plan to begin funding the EV charging network. | Action is a SMARTIE goal. |
| 26 | Create, support, and/or accelerate a plan to make Washoe County's I-80 corridor the nation-wide leader in alternative fuel charging. | By 2030, implement at least one pilot or permanent project that improves alternative fueling for commercial vehicles. |
| Strategy 3b: Reduce emissions, Commercial Buildings | ||
| 27 | Establish an opt-in Building Performance System (BPS) for commercial buildings to identify energy efficiency opportunities and support. | By 2030, 20% of registered businesses in Washoe County participate in the BPS program. |
| 28 | Adopt "ambitious" (instead of "standard") 2024 and 2027 International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC). | Action is a SMART goal. |
| 29 | Integrate sustainability into government procedures by providing resources during planning and permitting processes (eg provide information about heat pumps to requestors of permits to install new chillers / heaters / boiler). | By June 2025, list government processes that have potential for sustainability upgrades. By 2027, include sustainability information in the customer process of at least one government process. |
| Strategy 3c: Reduce emissions, Residential Buildings | ||
| 30 | Create virtual and / or physical resource hubs for homeowners and renters to learn how to make sustainable upgrades. | By June 2025, expand Sustainability website's existing resource hub. Create draft plan for a physical hub, in anticipation of potential funding opportunity. Focus solutions for low-income populations. |
| 31 | Amplify awareness of existing home energy efficiency programs such as NV Energy's free energy efficiency audit; Nevada Clean Energy Fund's Residential Energy Upgrade Program (RE-UP); Nevada Housing Division’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP); and the federal Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) program. | By June 2025, learn existing customer uptake rate of existing home energy efficiency programs. By June 2026, agree with program administrators on increased participation rate (eg, 10%). Prioritize promotion of income-qualified programs. |
| 32 | Create a program to convert mobile home power from gas to electric. | By June 2026, draft a plan that could convert at least 30% of mobile homes from gas to electric by 2030. By June 2028, share a case study of one successful conversion. |
| 33 | By 2030, implement at least one sustainable retrofit incentive for rental properties serving income-qualified tenants (Tacoma Public Utilities example). | Action is a SMARTIE goal. |
| 34 | By 2026, create toolkit, identify incentives, and identify lending facilities for owners of multi-family, affordable housing, and senior living facilities to make their buildings more energy-efficient. | By 2026, create a toolkit of resources and identify a metric to track progress on increasing building energy efficiency. |
| Strategy 3d: Reduce emissions, Waste | ||
| 35 | Identify and support food-waste composting pilot projects and providers for both residential and commercial needs. | 100% of Washoe County businesses and residents have access to commercial or at-home composting by 2028. |
| 36 | Identify and support green-waste composting models and providers for both residential and commercial needs. | 100% of Washoe County businesses and residents have access to green waste composting by 2030. |
| 37 | Provide administrative support to community waste-reduction working groups. | By June 2025, design working group charters, incorporating community feedback. Document group needs and identify budget and / or resources required to support working group communication and collaboration. |
| Strategy 4: Produce Cleaner Energy | ||
| 38 | Review NV Energy's progress toward commitment of 50% electricity from renewable sources by 2030; help remove barriers. | By 2026, learn barriers to NV Energy's 50% renewable sources commitment; by 2027, create plan to remove barriers if necessary. Create metrics to track progress. |
| 39 | Identify new federal programs to implement related to solar energy (eg R-PACE); apply to new grants supporting expanded solar capacity. | Create list of federal opportunities by December 2025. Identify up to 3 programs to pursue, at least 1 with an equitable focus; implement 1 program by 2030. |
| 40 | Identify opportunities and expand distributed energy resources like Community Solar, Solar Gardens, microgrids, smart-grids, behind-the-meter technology, and net metering. | Define tracking mechanism for solar progress by June 2025. Double the amount of community solar by 2028; focusing on neighborhoods with high energy burden (large % of total income goes to energy costs). |
| 41 | Promote financing options available through the existing Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) Program for local businesses. | Enroll 6 C-PACE customers each year through 2030. |
| 42 | Speed and streamline residential and commercial solar permitting through programs like SolSmart. | Obtain SolSmart Bronze level by 2026; Silver level by 2030. |
| 43 | Support implementation of grants, incentives and other federal funding opportunities to expand solar, especially for low-income residents. (eg Nevada Clean Energy Fund's implementation of its Solar for All) | At least two solar programs are launched in Low Income, Disadvantaged Communities (LIDACs) by 2030. |
| 44 | Ensure geothermal options are understood and considered during the pre-construction phase of new buildings. | By 2025, document the County services in which geothermal can be introduced; by 2028, include geothermal education as part of standard permitting processes. |