I 100% support approving Washoe County’s Climate Action Plan as soon as possible. Enacting a plan such as this is well overdue.

Climate change has already impacted me, my family, neighbors, and friends in several ways:

1. Although I recognize wild fires as a natural and needed cycle in the local ecosystem, I have witnessed these fires, irrefutably thanks to climate change, explode in frequency and intensity. When these fires poison the air, they take an enormous toll on the physical and mental health of myself and my friends, forcing us to take sick days, destroying homes belonging to our neighbors, and blocking our access to the outdoors which is the reason we love living here.
2. My job relies on being able to work on a computer and having reliable access to the internet. Power outages due to extreme heat and an overloaded grid significantly disrupt my ability to work and put my job in jeopardy.
3. Longer and hotter days force me to use more air conditioning to keep pets and loved ones from becoming ill due to overheating. My cost of living is becoming more burdensome each year. A few of my neighbors do not have the privilege of owning a car - I see them having to walk to the grocery store and elsewhere in dangerously hot and exposed conditions.

Please approve this plan! We know what we need to do, let's start doing it.

The Washoe County Climate Action Plan is a wake-up call to the price being paid for growth without concern for the effects on our climate, the environment, and everyone’s quality of life. As a resident of Incline Village, I am keenly aware of the popularity of Lake Tahoe and the economic benefits to all of Washoe county.

The statement on page 16 of the Climate Action Plan Introduction is alarming:

"Seasonal recreation in the Lake Tahoe region is a beloved resource to Washoe County residents, and Lake Tahoe tourism is a huge economic driver for our region, bringing in $467 million in taxable revenue in calendar year 2022 alone. The Future Urban Climates mapping tool, designed by an ecologist at the University of Maryland, shows that, with continued unchecked emissions, Lake Tahoe’s climate will be like Walla Walla, Washington, in 60 years, changing from 'temperate conifer forests' to 'deserts and xeric shrublands.' In a low emissions scenario, the Tahoe region’s climate would remain a temperate conifer forest, like Northern California."

Furthermore, page 15 of the Community Climate Action Plan provides two policies that could be easily implemented without delay, yet we continue to hear excuses. Instead, roads are built and expanded to carry more vehicles:

• Align regional efforts to reduce SOV (single-occupancy vehicle) trips to the region’s top employment areas (e.g., Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, Reno/Sparks casinos, and Lake Tahoe recreation).
• Work with transportation and tourism partners to educate visitors about car-free ways to enjoy Reno, Sparks, Lake Tahoe, and other key areas.

In other words, rather than pursuing plans for an Incline Village Mobility Hub and additional parking lots, Washoe County should prioritize transit solutions that reduce emissions, preserve Tahoe’s fragile environment, and align with the Climate Action Plan’s long-term vision. Our policies should reflect a commitment to sustainable growth that safeguards the future of our region’s economy, natural beauty, and quality of life.

I urge decision-makers to act decisively—the future of Washoe County, including Lake Tahoe, depends on it.

Given that Reno/Sparks is among the fastest-warming regions in the country, the time for bold action was yesterday. I fully support this Climate Action Plan—there is so much we can and must do.

I've watched with dismay as yet another huge expanse of dark, heat-trapping asphalt is being laid down at the new Corwin Ford dealership at the entrance to my neighborhood, an isolated Washoe County pocket (Offenhauser South Hills). There are far better alternatives that wouldn’t contribute to the urban heat island effect. Every business—especially new ones like this dealership—should be encouraged and supported in adopting sustainable, climate-conscious construction rather than defaulting to outdated, heat-trapping design.

The same applies to residential development. Too often, homeowners and builders stick to practices that made sense 50 years ago—such as water-intensive lawns or so-called xeriscaping that ends up being little more than another barren heat sink. What seems cheap and easy today will be costly and difficult to fix tomorrow. These choices will affect all of us, leading to declining health and a community that becomes increasingly unlivable.

I'm disappointed that new residential construction continues to follow outdated models from a pre-climate change era—without rooftop solar or home battery storage. A more distributed energy grid would offer significant benefits. When NV Energy needs to de-energize the grid to prevent or slow the spread of increasingly frequent wildfires, residents could remain safely and comfortably in their homes—especially critical for seniors and those with medical conditions. Additionally, reducing peak loads would ease the strain on the grid, making the entire system more resilient and sustainable. Certainly the County could do something to encourage developers to offer this for all new construction. The same goes for public buildings. I was baffled when the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District fire station 33 on Foothill Road went up without solar panels. Another missed opportunity.

Prioritizing speed and low costs over sustainable community design today is a recipe for disaster—one that will leave us with a fractured, unlivable community tomorrow.

I support the Climate Action Plan and think Washoe County needs to do everything it can to combat climate change. Reducing GHG emissions and fighting inequity are worthy goals and a good start. Once approved, Washoe should also look at water conservation, wildfire prevention, reducing PFAS and microplastics, and protecting native wildlife. I’m a resident of Verdi, NV and have seen the sierra snowpack dwindle over the years, and I urge Washoe County to continue fighting climate change any way they can.

I strongly support the adoption of this robust Climate Action Plan. It is clear that Brian and his team have outlined the particular needs of Washoe County well and that this plan is tailored to measures that will benefit our community and set us up for a resilient future. A few standout components and their impacts: Reducing our Scope 1 fuels will directly reduce particulate emissions and air pollution, which will boost the health of our residents. Supporting ambitious IECC codes and developing an opt-in Building Performance Standard will encourage construction that is energy-efficient and will enhance the working environments available to our workforce, both of which will help businesses save money over time. Expanding transportation efficiency will reduce wear and necessary maintenance on our roads. The list goes on. As a sustainability professional I am impressed with the thoroughness of this plan and hope to see it adopted.

I am in strong support of our county's climate action plan. We need action yesterday. My family has dealt with three climate catastrophe's this year. The Davis Creek fire came within one mile from our home; thanks to our incredible fire fighters, we still have a home. My niece lost her apartment in the Pacific Palisades fire and my other neice lost much of her beloved town of Ashville North Carolina. So if anyone still thinks climate change is a hoax, they are not paying attention. Reno is one of the fastest warming cities in the US, the time for bold action is now.

I'm excited to see Washoe County moving forward with this ambitious Climate Action Plan. Brian, who is sponsoring this initiative, has been an exceptional friend and collaborator. Over the years, I've had the pleasure of working with him and scientists he has brought out to Fly Ranch. We have also had the chance to work with Washoe County representatives, especially through our partnership on the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) at Fly Ranch. Their openness, enthusiasm, and dedication to sustainable innovation have deeply impressed me and made our collaborations impactful.

Fly Ranch is home to several sensitive and unique ecological features, most prominently the iconic Fly Geyser. In 2006, the Nevada Natural Heritage Program listed Fly Geyser as a highest priority conservation site. Fly Ranch is also home to rare photosynthetic microbial mats, the Snowy Plover, and the Fly Ranch pyrg, a species highlighted in both the 2006 Nevada Natural Heritage Program Scorecard report and the 2024 Nevada Natural Heritage Program Track List. The Fly Ranch pyrg has been notably documented in scientific literature, emphasizing the importance of protecting these critical habitats (Hershler & Sada, 2000; Nevada Natural Heritage Program, 2006, 2024).

These species, and the broader ecology at Fly Ranch are all impacted by climate change. Protecting and stewarding these unique biological resources aligns perfectly with Washoe County’s Climate Action Plan. We share aspirations for a resilient and ecologically vibrant future and are enthusiastic about further collaborations with Washoe County and Nevada. For more background, see flyranch.org and https://medium.com/beyond-burning-man/climate-change-is-an-existential-threat-to-black-rock-city-de473ab7a01

Now more than ever do I, as a 26-year-old female resident of Washoe County, think that it is imperative to plan for our communities’ climate resilience. Reno is a growing city and is becoming more appealing for both business and people to move here. If a plan is in place to reduce emissions and strengthen community resilience to urban heat island and AQI fluctuations, it will benefit our County by reducing our community’s risk. It also benefits local ecosystems and benefits our economy through conservation.
Although this is a set of suggested actions/strategies versus an implementation plan, this forward-thinking document puts Washoe County in front of many other places in the United States, solely on the basis that we are looking to our future. This plan guides a path on how we can meet the county goals, while also sticking to the guided principles. I strongly urge you to consider adopting this plan.

Recorded heat map data shows that the Reno region is one of the fastest warming cities in the country. We have a dire need to outpace the rate of heating with strategies to mitigate the increase. The Heat Island Effect is a well established condition that can be addressed by leadership through building regulations, incentives and education. Heat load on buildings can be reduced with effective shading strategies from architectural shading and long-term tree growth. High albedo surfaces and reduced use of asphalt in parking lots provide measurable savings. Improved efficiencies of building systems saves the grid from heavy peak demand events. There is opportunity to improve how we run our cities and the time is now to implement standards for the future Nevadans who will live with the decisions we make today.