Stateline, Nevada – At its annual conference Wednesday, the Nevada Chapter of the American Planning Association recognized the Tahoe-Truckee Plug-In Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan with awards for most outstanding plan and most outstanding public outreach. The awards were presented as part of the group’s annual DeBoer Awards program.

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and Truckee Donner Public Utility District released the plug-in electric vehicle plan earlier this year. Developed with many community partners and funding from the California Energy Commission, the plan is designed to improve the Tahoe-Truckee region’s readiness for electric vehicles with better vehicle charging infrastructure, streamlined permitting, and public outreach.

The region is already seeing increased usage of electric vehicles by residents and visitors. Planning for increasing demand and future vehicle technologies is critical to serve the needs of the public and realize the environmental benefits of electric vehicles, including a reduction in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and the amount of dripping oil and gas that can reach Lake Tahoe.

“It is great to be recognized in the State of Nevada for this readiness plan,” said Devin Middlebrook, sustainability program coordinator at TRPA. “Electric vehicles are the future and we want to ensure our region is ready for them.”

The DeBoer Awards are named after Saco Reink DeBoer, author of the Boulder City, Nevada plan and one of the master city planners of the 20th century. The awards honor excellence in planning projects and represent the best work of the planning community to affect positive change in the Silver State.

The complete Tahoe-Truckee Plug-In Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan is available online at http://tahoealternativefuels.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Tahoe_Truckee_PlugInPlan_Final_web.pdf

The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency leads the cooperative effort to preserve, restore, and enhance the unique natural and human environment of the Lake Tahoe Region, while improving local communities, and people’s interactions with our irreplaceable environment. For additional information, contact Devin Middlebrook, sustainability program coordinator, at (775) 589-5230.