Powering the AI Economy: Industry Strategies for Enabling Data Center Growth while Maintaining Grid Reliability and Resilience

Mar 04, 2027
B316
Data Center Summit

Rapid AI and cloud growth is driving unprecedented demand for data center capacity, challenging utilities and grid operators to plan for large, concentrated loads while maintaining reliable and resilient service.

This panel will bring together industry leaders to discuss how they are responding to the scale, speed, and complexity of data center growth while maintaining reliable and resilient service for all customers. Panelists will examine challenges associated with balancing supply and demand, forecasting large-load growth, expanding generation and grid infrastructure, managing transmission and distribution constraints, and addressing the reliability implications of large and concentrated loads.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand key grid and reliability challenges associated with data center growth.
  • Identify emerging approaches to large-load interconnection and system planning.
  • Explore technologies and strategies that can improve grid flexibility and resilience.
  • Examine opportunities for collaboration among utilities, data center developers, regulators, and other stakeholders.

The discussion will also explore emerging solutions, including flexible interconnection arrangements, demand flexibility, energy storage, on-site generation, microgrids, advanced grid technologies, and new approaches to utility–customer coordination. Panelists will share practical experience, lessons learned, and perspectives on how utilities, data center developers, regulators, and other stakeholders can work together to support economic growth while preserving system reliability, resilience, affordability, and operational flexibility.