The Infrastructure Behind Intelligence: How Energy Innovation Will Scale AI

Join the SAIS Energy & Environment Club and Technology & Innovation Focus Area for a moderated lunchtime panel discussion exploring the technologies, infrastructure investments, and policy choices needed to meet AI’s growing energy demands.

Artificial intelligence’s continued expansion depends on physical infrastructure—from data centers and computing equipment to electricity generation, transmission, and grid connections. This conversation will examine how utilities, technology companies, and policymakers can prepare for rapid and uncertain demand growth while maintaining grid reliability, affordability, and environmental performance. Topics will include energy efficiency, flexible computing demand, grid modernization, energy storage, and emerging power technologies, alongside the policies and coordination needed to put these solutions into practice.

Our panel brings together Parag Nathaney, Principal Quantitative Engineer at Exelon; Steve Nadel, Senior Fellow and former Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy; and Kate Garman Burns, Director of State and Local Innovation at the Federation of American Scientists. Drawing on perspectives from the utility sector, energy efficiency research, and state and local policy, the speakers will consider how AI infrastructure can strengthen the electric grid while supporting U.S. technological competitiveness and delivering benefits to host communities.

The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A. Lunch will be provided.

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Co-hosted with: SAIS Strategy, Security, Intelligence & Technology