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Apply to the Institute

COVID-19 Update: In light of the current situation surrounding COVID-19, the Institute will be held in a single extended session November 18-22, 2020, in Washington, D.C.  The session July 11-14 in Richland, WA will not be held. The timeline for applying to the program has been extended to July 1. Please continue to apply as you normally would.
Application and the Selection Process​
  • ​Congratulations on your decision to apply to LEHI! ​You are seeking to join an extensive graduate network of over 300 legislators and policymakers from across North America. 
  • You are applying for an opportunity to join the 2020 LEHI Cohort. Your application will be reviewed, and you will be notified of your acceptance into the cohort. 
  • Note: If you are attending through the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), you have already been contacted and selected to attend, and do not need to apply. Contact Laura Shields at laura.shields@ncsl.org with questions. 

Eligibility Requirements
  • Elected state or provincial legislators from the U.S. or Canada
  • Legislators currently serving on energy, natural resources, or environment committees
  • Legislators interested in making energy a part of their legislative career
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What to Know Before Applying
  • You are encouraged to get a recommendation from your caucus leadership or LEHI alumni. Priority is given to legislators who have been recommended by leadership or alumni. You can indicate who has recommended you when filling out the online application.
  • Due to the unique circumstances around this year's public health crisis, LEHI will be held in single extended session November 18-22, 2020 in Washington, D.C.  Please be respectful of other applicants by ensuring that you are able to commit to this session. 
  • Tuition for LEHI is $5000 USD per participant. This will be covered for qualified elected legislators who are accepted into the program. Travel and accommodations is estimated at $2500 USD. Scholarships are available for accepted applicants through legislative organizations.
  • Throughout its 10 year history, LEHI travel and tuition scholarship have been accepted by all participant state ethics committees as a sanctioned expense.  However, it is up to each participant to check with their legislative rules regarding scholarships.
  • For more information on scholarships such as what legislative organization you might be eligible to receive a scholarship through, visit the "Scholarships" page. If you have questions regarding scholarships and travel, please contact Nate Weigel at nate.weigel@pnwer.org. 

Next Steps
  • The new application deadline, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, is July 1, 2020. 
  • You will be notified of your selection into the 2020 Cohort by August 1, 2020. Most applicants will receive notification sooner than this.
  • If you are not selected into the 2020 Cohort, you may be asked to serve as an alternate, or waitlisted for the 2021 Cohort.  
  • If you have questions about the status of your application, contact Nate Weigel at nate.weigel@pnwer.org or 206-443-7723. 

Selection Criteria
Selection of applicants is based upon a combination of the following criteria:
  • Energy-related legislative committee assignments, experience, and/or commitment to energy policy
  • Endorsement from caucus leadership and/or LEHI alumni
  • A balance of bi-partisan, diverse, and geographically diverse participants
  • Selection of applicants will be at the discretion of the Institute partner organizations
  • All applications will be considered

Application and Selection Timeline - NEW TIMELINE DUE TO COVID-19
  • January 1 : Applications open for the 2020 Cohort
  • July 1: Deadline to apply
  • August 1: Notification to applicants of acceptance into the 2020 Institute
  • November 18-22:  LEHI Session in Washington, D.C.