Northern Virginia forum to focus on AI data centers and power policy

A Northern Virginia forum on Oct. 15 will bring policymakers, regulators, investors and industry leaders together to examine the power, permitting and financing challenges behind U.S. AI infrastructure growth. The event comes as data center expansion raises fresh questions about grid capacity, cost allocation and who gets to approve new projects.

Why it matters: - AI growth depends on data centers, and data centers depend on electricity, transmission and permits. - The forum is designed to surface the policy and commercial choices that could shape U.S. AI infrastructure heading into 2027 legislative and congressional sessions. - Rising demand for data centers is putting pressure on grids, costs and local communities.

What happened: - Knowledge Networks, through its Regulating AI platform, and The American Bazaar will host Powering the AI Decade: Data Centers and Energy Policy Forum on Oct. 15, 2026. - The half-day event will take place at Towers Crescent Conference Center in Vienna, Virginia. - The forum will run from 10:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Eastern Time. - The organizers say the event will bring together policymakers, regulators, industry leaders and investors. - Event details and registration information are available on AllEvents.

The details: - The keynote, “America's Digital Infrastructure at an Inflection Point,” will examine demand growth, grid readiness and federal priorities over the next two years. - The first panel, “The Builders: What It Actually Takes to Get Built,” will focus on power availability, water access, siting constraints and community considerations. - Nancy Novak, chief innovation officer at Compass Datacenters, is listed as a panelist for the builders session. - The second panel, “Who Pays for the Grid,” will examine who should bear the cost of electricity and grid infrastructure for new data centers. - That panel will address large-load electricity tariffs, cost allocation and interconnection queues in Virginia, PJM and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. - Scheduled panelists include Ted Trabue, interim chairman of the Public Service Commission of the District of Columbia; Stephen D. Haner of the Thomas Jefferson Institute; Michael Giberson of the R Street Institute; and Andrew Major of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. - The third panel, “Permission to Build: Federal, State and Local,” will look at permitting jurisdiction, federal preemption, measurement standards and incentive structures. - Scheduled panelists for that session include Rep. James Walkinshaw, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, Virginia state Sen. Kannan Srinivasan and former Rep. Jon C. Porter. - The fourth panel, “Financing the Build: Capital, Funding and Policy Risk,” will focus on how policy uncertainty affects infrastructure investment. - That discussion will examine permitting delays, electricity tariff uncertainty and community opposition as factors that can affect underwriting, project timelines and capital deployment. - Scheduled panelists include Del. John McAuliff and Barbara Gutierrez, managing director of natural resources at Aon. - The signature session, “AI on the Ballot: What the Public Is Telling Washington,” will examine public opinion and local acceptance as factors in AI infrastructure development. - The nonpartisan session will be presented under Knowledge Networks' “AI on the Ballot” banner. - Scheduled panelists include Michael R. Turner, Vice Chair of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors; Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony; and Jessica Mason, senior analyst at Embold Research. - The program will conclude with closing remarks at 3:20 p.m. Eastern Time. - Knowledge Networks works across AI policy, leadership and innovation through initiatives including Regulating AI, the ERAI Fellowship, Policyora and CAIO Connect. - The American Bazaar is a U.S.-based media and events platform covering business, technology, policy and issues relevant to the Indian American community and the broader diaspora.

Between the lines: - The agenda shows AI infrastructure is no longer just a technology story; it is a power, permitting and financing story. - The inclusion of lawmakers, regulators, utilities experts and local officials suggests the debate is moving across all levels of government. - The forum's emphasis on public opinion and community acceptance reflects a practical reality: projects can stall even when financing and engineering are in place.

What's next: - The forum will offer a venue for stakeholders to compare policy approaches before 2027 legislative and congressional debates. - Attendees and observers will be watching for signals on cost allocation, permitting authority and grid expansion priorities. - The event listing on AllEvents is aimed at helping prospective attendees discover the forum and register.