By Melanie Condon

What do the 2016 Spring Webinar Series and tulips have in common? They are both blooming in April!

NCSL’s Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee, with jurisdiction over agriculture, environment, energy and transportation issues, is pleased to announce that its annual Spring Webinar Series will begin April 14 and continue every other Thursday until June 23. Webinars will begin at 2 p.m ET and last approximately 1 hour.

What does this year’s series have to offer?

• April 14: Connectivity Issues: Rural Broadband Development

Discussion: How states and the federal government can work together to create economic development opportunities for rural communities so that they may participate fully in the nation’s economy.

• April 28: Multi-Sector Public-Private Partnerships: How P3s Can Help Improve Public Infrastructure Needs

Discussion: Participants will hear about new research on the tangible benefits associated with sound P3 enabling statutes.

• May 12: Is That Safe To Drink? An Examination of State Water Infrastructure

Discussion: In light of Flint Michigan’s lead poisoning crisis, what are states and the federal government doing to protect water infrastructure projects? What funding is out there for these projects and what new proposals are coming out of Congress?

• May 26: Navigating the FAST Act: Exploring State Highway Safety Incentive Grants

Discussion: How the FAST Act includes new, more flexible criteria for states to qualify for this funding and advance highway safety in the coming years.  

• June 9: GMOs: A Recipe for a New Label?

Discussion: With Vermont’s new mandatory labeling requirements set to go into effect on July 1 and Congress debating whether to pre-empt states from requiring such updated labels, join us for a full update on this hearty topic. 

• June 23: The Future of Distributed Solar Energy

Discussion: Explore the debate and potential solutions, including community solar, utility and third-party ownership, net metering, fixed charges and fees and the value of solar.

All webinars are free and recordings will be posted on NCSL’s website after the event. You must register online in order to gain access to the webinars, but don’t worry it’s easy just click here: www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=30196

Questions? Feel free to email Melanie.Condon@ncsl.org or call 202-624-3597  

Melanie Condon is policy specialist for the Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee in the Washington, D.C. office of NCSL.

Email Melanie.