NCSL's Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee is pleased to announce the 2023 Spring Webinar Series. This year, five webinars will be hosted beginning March 17 and concluding June 16. All webinars, unless otherwise specified will be held at 3 p.m. ET.
NCSL Webinars allow attendees to participate in meetings taking place around the world from the comfort of their desks. They are collaborative, interactive and easy to use.
Most webinars will be recorded for those who are unable to attend the live meeting.
The 2023 series includes:
The Big Burn: Actions to Mitigate Wildfire Risk and Build Forest Resilience | March 17
- Recent fire events have upended the notion of a summer fire season. States across the country are now battling large and unpredictable wildfires year-round. On this webinar, we’ll discuss the broad array of federal resources that are being made available to states and look at some specific actions states are taking to mitigate wildfire risk. Learn more and register.
Growing into the Future: Water-Resilient Agriculture | March 31
- Extended drought in many states and increased pressures on water resources have resulted in competing demands and concerns for future water availability. As an important water user, the agricultural sector can play a key role as water stewards and can benefit from resilient practices. This webinar will explore innovative agricultural practices and other policy options that states are considering in the face of water scarcity. Learn more and register.
Energy Storage as Resilience | April 21
- Energy storage has always had the potential to serve as a vital resource during periods of stress for the electric grid. Energy storage resources can inject much-needed electricity when demand is highest, or support a microgrid that enables homes, businesses and communities to ride out power outages. However, current limitations with the most common battery technologies has, in some cases, constrained the impact of these resources during disaster scenarios, leading some states to begin exploring long-duration storage technologies to support resilience. This webinar will look at current energy storage technologies, how these technologies are currently deployed, and how they could be deployed in the future to support greater resilience. Learn more and register.
Strengthening 911 Systems: State Policy Options | May 19
- An estimated 240 million calls are made annually to 911 call centers nationwide. States rely on a strong 911 communications infrastructure and steady workforce to respond promptly to such calls and set the emergency response process in motion. However, factors like limited resources and the ongoing demand to accommodate technological advancements can create barriers to effective emergency care. This webinar will explore the use of improved technology, funding and other tools available to policymakers to enhance their state’s existing 911 systems. Learn more and register.
Integrated Utility System Planning: Factoring in the Distribution Grid | June 16
- States have increasingly asked electric utilities to engage in planning exercises to proactively integrate various aspects of their system and operations. While integrated resource plans have been common methods for utilities to address large-scale generation and transmission infrastructure requirements, the distribution grid has received less scrutiny—even as they’ve been required to incorporate a growing share of electric vehicles and distributed energy resources. This webinar will discuss this growing trend in utility planning practices, how these plans fit into larger utility planning processes, and the role that states play in establishing these requirements. Learn more and register.