Connect | New York // Major Panel: Eureka! How to power data centers in the age of AI

Power has become the defining constraint for data center growth. AI and high-density workloads are forcing operators to move beyond traditional utility models, driving investment in private generation, private wire partnerships, hybrid PPAs and nuanced regional approaches. The challenge is no longer about just accessing power, it’s about how we can create, control and future proof it to make energy a competitive advantage, not a constraint.

This panel explores how operators are navigating evolving power markets by addressing:

• The evolution of power procurement models to meet high-density demand
• New connections: The rise of microgrids, private wire and direct renewable integration
• The trade-offs between deploying in constrained hubs versus new markets
• The new collaborations between utilities, developers and policy makers required to sustain AI growth