An excellent resource for this effort is the Smart Growth Strategy Builder (see the Smart Growth Toolkit in the Resources section), which assesses opportunities and challenges for smart growth initiatives.

Consider:

• Political support.

• Public knowledge and support.

• The expertise of local government staff in climate change issues.

• Local and state policies that generally support or hinder green neighborhood development.

• Knowledge and support of the development and construction industries.

• Cost issues and available incentives for innovations that reduce emissions.

• The extent to which local and state regulations permit development of neighborhoods with green characteristics.

Sustainability inventories recently completed by five cities in Alameda County are good examples of comprehensive assessments.  Designed to provide information about a wide range of issues and opportunities, these have been used as the basis for development of a range of citywide green initiatives.