Living With Water: An International Masterclass

In this inaugural International Policy Masterclass, hosted in partnership with the American Flood Coalition, CSG South led a delegation of 19 lawmakers from 10 states to the Kingdom of the Netherlands to gain insight into water management and flood mitigation, including research and innovation, coastal protection, resiliency, costs, and funding sources.  

For years, major flooding events have engulfed several Southern states. These repeated flood events can create a significant and long-term strain on the environment and economies, both in tangible losses and productivity. As the South braces for rising seas, heavier rains, future hurricanes, and continued coastal development, the Netherlands’ significant expertise in water management innovation, flood-control measures, and state-of-the-art disaster-mitigating infrastructure will be invaluable in navigating these challenges. 

Over four days, delegates engaged in briefings and tours focused on natural and engineered solutions to coastal, urban, and inland flooding.  

Experts from several ministries and organizations briefed attendees, including the following: 

  • U.S. Embassy  
  • Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management 
  • Association of Dutch Water Authorities 
  • Deltares 
  • Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) 
  • City of Rotterdam 
  • Port of Rotterdam 
  • Okra 
  • Municipality of Katwijk 

Participants also received tours of the Port of Rotterdam and the Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier, one of the largest moving structures on Earth.  

Participants included: 

  • Representative Chip Brown, Alabama 
  • Senator Jenn Bradley, Florida 
  • Representative James Buchanan, Florida 
  • Representative Jennifer Canady, Florida 
  • Representative Matt Windschitl, Iowa 
  • Senator Robin Webb, Kentucky 
  • Senator Phillip Wheeler, Kentucky 
  • Senator Beth Mizell, Louisiana 
  • Representative Jerome Zeringue, Louisiana 
  • Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby, Mississippi 
  • Representative Zack Hawkins, North Carolina 
  • Representative Mark Pless, North Carolina 
  • Senate President Thomas Alexander, South Carolina 
  • Senator Larry Grooms, South Carolina 
  • Speaker Pro Tempore Tommy Pope, South Carolina 
  • Senator Mamie Locke, Virginia 
  • Speaker Don Schott, Virginia 
  • Senate President and Lieutenant Governor Craig Blair, West Virginia 
  • Delegate Clay Riley, West Virginia 

CLICK HERE FOR PRESENTATIONS

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Bigger May Not Be Better: The Potential of Small Nuclear Reactors to Address Energy Needs 

With the emergence of new nuclear energy technologies, states may soon begin to reconsider how nuclear generation factors into their energy portfolio. What is expected to be the first operational Small Modular Reactor (SMR) in North America is currently being built in Ontario, Canada. In addition to the SMR, Ontario’s current and planned nuclear programs require the development of a skilled workforce and a reliable supply chain of critical minerals. To facilitate an exchange of knowledge and expertise on the cost and timelines associated with new nuclear energy projects, CSG South, in partnership with the Government of Ontario (through the Ontario Investment and Trade Office in Dallas, Texas) hosted the Bigger May Not Be Better: The Potential of Small Nuclear Reactors to Address Energy Needs Policy Masterclass.  

Twenty participants from ten Southern states – Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia – participated in the Masterclass over four days. The first day included arrivals and an evening reception jointly hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada (AmCham) and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) at the OTPP headquarters in Toronto. Officials from both organizations; diplomats from the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto (including the Consul General) also participated.  

Over the next three days, attendees participated in 17 learning sessions ranging from information on SMR technology to critical minerals to workforce development. Throughout the Masterclass, participants engaged with top Ontario officials, including:  

  • Premier Doug Ford 
  • Ted Arnott, Legislative Assembly Speaker 
  • Stephen Lecce, Minister for Energy and Electrification 
  • Jill Dunlop, Minister for Education 
  • Victor Fedeli, Minister for Economic Development 
  • Sam Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries 

Participants travelled to the Darlington Nuclear Station operated by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) where they received briefings on nuclear expansion, waste management, and supply chain growth and undertook a walkthrough of a mockup Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor and a bus tour of the Darlington site, including where the SMR is being constructed.  

The 17 Learning Sessions were as follows: 

  • Learning Session 17: Canada, the United States and Top Tier Nuclear Nations: A Comparative Policy Analysis  Presenter: Chad Richards, Nuclear Innovation Institute 

The 20 participants were as follows:  

  • Mr. Joshua Baxter, Attorney Specialist for the Arkansas Public Service Commission 
  • Senator George Burns, Oklahoma 
  • Senator Danny Carroll, Kentucky 
  • Representative Micah Caskey, South Carolina 
  • Senator Hillman Frazier, Mississippi 
  • Representative Donna Givens, Alabama 
  • Delegate Anitra Hamilton, West Virginia 
  • Senator Bob Hensgens, Louisiana 
  • Representative Brian Hill, Oklahoma 
  • Representative Jason Hughes, Louisiana 
  • Senator Andrew Jones, Alabama 
  • Representative Jack Ladyman, Arkansas 
  • Representative Annie McDaniel, South Carolina 
  • Senator Matt McKee, Arkansas 
  • Representative Sam McKenzie, Tennessee 
  • Secretary of Energy & Environment, Ken McQueen, Oklahoma 
  • Mr. Weasley Seaman, Energy Project Manager for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce 
  • Delegate George Street, West Virginia 
  • Representative Bill Werkheiser, Georgia 
  • Representative Bruce Williamson, Georgia 

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Southern Pulse Newsletter, August

THAT’S A WRAP ON SLC 2024!

What an incredible Southern Legislative Conference it was! Can you believe it? Nearly 1400 legislators, families, and affiliates gathered at The Greenbrier Resort in beautiful White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. We can’t express how thankful we are for the continuous support from our host state and the fantastic volunteers and legislative staffers who helped make this conference wonderful! Thank you, West Virginia!  

Our office is bursting with excitement for the months ahead. At CSG South, we consistently uphold the standard of outstanding professional development, insightful policy masterclasses, and robust publications that bring hours of research into your hands. In the coming months, we will have completed all three of our Policy Masterclasses and our two signature leadership development programs – the Center for the Advancement of Leadership Skills (CALS) and its staffer parallel, the Staff Academy for Governmental Excellence (SAGE). Additionally, our policy team is working on creating new publications with regionally focused data and analysis to provide you and your office with knowledge on critical matters.  

We hope that you have enjoyed your summer, and we can’t wait to see all the great work you continue to do in your communities.  

All the best, 
Lindsey G.

Click here to read Southern Pulse- August 2024

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Southern Pulse Newsletter, July

GREETINGS MEMBERS, 

The buzz of #SLCWV2024 is in the air!

The CSG South team and WV team are busy finishing up our 78th Southern Legislative Conference, and we couldn’t be more excited! A huge thank you to all volunteers, members, and staff who have dedicated hours to making this event happen—we truly couldn’t do it without you. 

To all new members and familiar members attending SLC at The Greenbrier in less than a week, I look forward to seeing you and showing you why we are considered the best regional legislative conference in the nation. Get your packing list started, and I will meet you there!

All the best, 
Lindsey G.

Click here to read Southern Pulse- July 2024

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Ranked (Or Rankled?): States Consider Ranked Choice Voting Methods

Throughout American history, the method of elections and voting rules have changed regularly — whether legislatively or through court actions. Currently, a new(er) frontier is forming regarding a form of voting that could upend how states in the South (and nationwide) currently hold their elections and runoffs: ranked-choice voting.* Despite its novelty, these proposals have seen a broad spectrum of bipartisan support – and opposition.

Click here to read and download the full publication

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Southern Pulse Newsletter, June

Can you believe it is almost time for #SLCWV2024?

Each member of the CSG South Staff team, from accounting to our event planners to policy and marketing, has pulled in hundreds of hours of planning and attending to the thousands of details that, when combined, have created the most anticipated Southern Legislative Conference to date. However, we could never have pulled it off without our host state leadership’s tireless work and vision. To the staff and legislative leaders in West Virginia who make SLC 2024 possible, we continue to thank you and can’t wait to help you showcase all your beautiful state has to offer. 

See you at The Greenbrier!

Lindsey G.

Click here to read Southern Pulse- June 2024

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