Power, Place, and AI: Energy, Environment, and AI Data Centers

As artificial intelligence expands across government, business, and everyday life, state and local leaders are increasingly confronting the physical infrastructure required to support it. AI systems rely on energy-intensive data centers, large amounts of electricity and water, extensive cooling systems, and expanded transmission and digital infrastructure. These developments can create opportunities for economic growth, workforce development, and grid modernization, but they also raise concerns about energy affordability, environmental impacts, land use, and noise pollution in both urban and rural communities.

AI may, however, also help governments improve energy efficiency, infrastructure planning, environmental monitoring, and public service delivery. This session examines the practical policy and governance challenges surrounding AI infrastructure and explores how public leaders can balance innovation, reliability, sustainability, affordability, and community impacts as AI adoption accelerates.