Knowledge Networks gathers lawmakers and builders to tackle AI power demands

Knowledge Networks and partners convened lawmakers, regulators, utilities and developers in Vienna, Virginia, on Oct. 15 to debate how the U.S. can build the data centers and power capacity AI needs. The forum centered on permitting, grid costs, financing and public trust, with Northern Virginia at the center of the national stakes.

Why it matters: - AI infrastructure is colliding with energy capacity, land use and electricity-rate debates in one of the country’s biggest data center hubs. - Northern Virginia sits at the center of those decisions, putting local residents, utilities and elected officials in the middle of a national buildout. - The forum focused on who pays for new power, who approves new projects and how policymakers can keep AI expansion moving.

What happened: - Knowledge Networks, The American Bazaar, RegulatingAI and AI on the Ballot hosted “Powering the AI Decade” in Vienna, Virginia, on Oct. 15. - The event brought together members of Congress, Virginia state legislators, county supervisors, utility regulators, data center developers, investors and policy analysts. - Organizers framed the discussion around a single question: how the United States can build the data centers and power capacity AI requires, and who bears the cost. - The forum was built around five sessions covering construction, grid costs, permitting, financing and public opinion.

The details: - The opening panel examined what it takes to move AI infrastructure from announcement to operation. - Erin McPike of FTI Consulting moderated the builders session. - Panelists included Nancy Novak of Compass Datacenters, Jordan Crenshaw of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Ceren Susut, deputy assistant secretary for grid controls and security. - The second panel focused on cost allocation as data center load grows. - Michael Taylor, executive director of RegulatingAI, moderated that discussion. - Panelists included Ted Trabue 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 looked at permitting and siting at the federal, state and local levels. - Miranda Nazzaro of The Hill moderated that session. - Panelists included Rep. James Walkinshaw, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, Virginia state Sen. Kannan Srinivasan and Jon C. Porter, CEO of Porter Group. - The fourth panel addressed financing and how investors and insurers price regulatory uncertainty into infrastructure projects. - Francis McCabe of Hughes Hubbard moderated that conversation. - Panelists included Barbara Gutierrez of Aon, Rachel Rosenfeld of Norton Rose Fulbright and Virginia Del. J.J. Singh, who represents Loudoun. - The closing session examined what voters are saying about data centers, energy costs and AI. - Ben Iorio of the Geopolitical Insight and Education Foundation moderated the session. - Panelists included Del. John McAuliff of Loudoun, Loudoun County Supervisor Michael R. Turner, Loudoun County Supervisor Laura A. TeKrony, Jessica Mason of Embold Research and Del. Irene Shin of Fairfax.

Between the lines: - The event made clear that AI infrastructure is no longer just a technology issue. - Utility regulation, local zoning, capital markets and voter pressure are now part of the same policy fight. - By putting lawmakers, regulators and builders in one room, organizers signaled that the bottlenecks are political as much as technical. - Sanjay K. Puri, founder and chairman of Knowledge Networks, said the U.S. cannot lead in AI if it cannot power it and argued that the key decisions are being made in utility commissions, county boards and statehouses.

What's next: - Knowledge Networks said it will continue the conversation through RegulatingAI and AI on the Ballot programming in the months ahead. - The group plans to keep bringing builders, regulators and voters into discussions with policymakers shaping AI infrastructure rules.

The bottom line: - The Virginia forum showed how quickly AI expansion has become a power, permitting and politics problem, not just a computing one. - Knowledge Networks is positioning itself as a convener in that fight as policymakers face pressure to speed up infrastructure without shifting too much cost to ratepayers.