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A series of panel discussions that kicks off next month in Portland will examine the theme of creating sustainable infrastructure.

Panelists will discuss in three upcoming events the effects of climate change on the region’s infrastructure and how investments in sustainable energy, water, transportation and waste management can address environmental issues and foster livable communities. The series 鈥淚nfrastructure Crisis, Sustainable Solutions,鈥� is hosted by the Urban Land Institute Northwest, Metro and The Evergreen State College’sCenter for Sustainable Infrastructure.

The event series stems from efforts by Metro officials to encourage community discussion about future infrastructure development in the Portland-metro region, said Noah Siegel, a Metro policy adviser.

鈥淲e have all these needs,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e’ve been trying to reframe the question of what do we imagine in the community?鈥�

The first panel discussion, 鈥淢aximizing Community Wide Value Across Our Infrastructure Investments,鈥� is scheduled to take place on July 15 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center, 2250 S.E. Water Ave. 聽Registration will start at 4 p.m., followed by the panel discussion from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Networking and food will be served from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The event will focus on ways that a large infrastructure investment, such as TriMet’s Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail project, can address various community needs, Siegel said. Panelists include Liz Kelly, vice president of CH2M; Dave Unsworth, TriMet director of capital projects; and Todd Vogel, managing director of the Loom Foundation. Group AGB Ltd. principal Andre Baugh will serve as moderator.

The cost of the event is $15 for Urban Land Institute members and $20 for nonmembers. Ticket prices cover the cost of food and drink served during the event.

Dates and locations for the next two panel discussions in the series are still being determined, Siegel said. A discussion titled 鈥淭he History and Future of Disruptive Infrastructure Technologies鈥� will likely take place in September and examine how modern technology has affected infrastructure systems. The third and final event in the series, 鈥淔air and Sustainable Funding Sources for Whole System Solutions,鈥� will likely take place before the end of this year, he said. The panel discussion will explore ways to maximize community investments in infrastructure.