2026
SUMMER
SEMINAR
AUG.2-4
PARK CITY, UTAH
AUG. 2-4, 2026
ABOUT
SCHEDULE
VENUE
ABOUT SUMMER SEMINAR.
For more than 50 years, EPRI Summer Seminar has convened CEOs and senior leaders to engage in candid dialogue on the forces reshaping the global energy system. In 2026, that conversation turns decisively toward a defining challenge for our industry: how to deliver power at the speed demanded by AI—without compromising affordability, reliability, or public trust.
This year’s theme, Speed to Power: Accelerating AI Affordably & Reliably, brings together utility, technology, regulatory, and cross industry leaders to focus on execution. The agenda is designed for CEOs navigating unprecedented load growth, accelerating timelines, capital intensity, and rising stakeholder expectations.
EVENT SCHEDULE.
VENUE.
SUNDAY | AUGUST 2, 2026
Welcome Reception
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Location
MONDAY | AUGUST 3, 2026
*Agenda subject to change and speakers to be announced in the coming weeks
Delivering the Power Shift:
8:00 – 8:05 AM
Location
Summer Seminar 2026
Morgan Scott
Vice President, Global Partnerships and Outreach, EPRI
From Electrons to Intelligence
8:05 – 8:15 AM
Arshad Mansoor President and Chief Executive Officer, EPRI
Grand Hyatt Deer Valley
1702 Glencoe Mountain Way, Park City, Utah, 84060, United States
View Hotel
Check-In: 4:00 PM
Check-Out: 11:00 AM
Closest Airport: Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
What to Wear: The dress code is business casual. The meeting rooms can be cool, we suggest bringing a jacket.
Attendees are responsible for making their own travel and guest room reservations.
BOOK ROOM
Guest Room Rates: Starting from $349 plus tax
Group Block Closes: July 9, 2026
REGISTER NOW
Have questions? Email us at SummerSeminar@epri.com
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Looking Back, Leaping Forward:
8:15 – 9:00 AM
CEO Reflections One Year On
Lessons in Multi-Stakeholder Alignment for Accelerating Datacenter Development
From Farmland to 500MW:
9:15 – 10:00 AM
Break
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Building the Ecosystem for Distributed AI Inference
Orchestrate It, or Inherit It:
10:30 – 11:15 AM
Executing ‘Speed-to-Power’ Strategies for the Demand Renaissance Era
Velocity: Bridging the 7-Year Gap to Power
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Lunch
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Making Large Loads Affordable and Fast
From Flexibility to Speed:
1:00 – 1:15 PM
What We’ve Learned from DCFlex Demonstrations
Advancing Pilot Projects to a Power Playbook:
1:15 – 2:00 PM
SESSION 3
The Wow - Imagining What’s Possible with AI
AI for Power
2:00 – 3:00 PM
SESSION 4
Break
3:00 – 3:30 PM
The New Supply Chain Reality
Building at the Speed of Demand:
3:30 – 3:50 PM
Governance and Alignment for Risk, Resilience, and Rapid Growth
Responsible AI:
3:50 – 4:35 PM
SESSION 5
Day 1 Closing
4:35 – 4:45 PM
Reception
6:00 – 8:00 PM
TUESDAY | AUGUST 4, 2026
Welcome
8:30 – 8:35 AM
Morgan Scott
Vice President, Global Partnerships and Outreach, EPRI
8:35 – 9:30 AM
Earning Acceptance While Keeping Costs Down
Customers and Community:
SESSION 6
Break
10:00 – 10:30 AM
Global Perspectives on AI Data Centers and Grid Reliability
Powering AI, Protecting the Grid:
9:30 – 10:00 AM
Powering the Next Scientific Frontier
From Discovery to Deployment:
10:30 – 10:45 AM
AI as a Catalyst for the Modern Workforce
Augmenting Human Potential:
10:45 – 11:30 AM
SESSION 7
An AI Synthesized Look Ahead
Signals from the System:
11:30 AM – 11:45 PM
CLOSING PLENARY
Utilities sit at the tip of the spear when it comes to this transformational time for power systems around the world. Success depends on broad engagement across partners, communities, regulators, and technology providers — with utilities leading these conversations and setting direction. Last year’s Summer Seminar highlighted the urgent need to accelerate innovation and collaboration across the energy sector, with a special focus on powering AI and harnessing AI for power system transformation. Key learnings included the importance of building flexibility into grid planning and operations, leveraging standardization and proven solutions to scale quickly, and ensuring that affordability, reliability, and sustainability remain central to every decision. Above all, the event underscored that meeting today’s challenges requires new partnerships, transparent engagement, and a willingness to rethink traditional approaches to deliver value for customers and communities.
This session brings together the CEOs leading this work to examine how last year’s insights have translated into action, what new efforts have taken shape, and where the industry must focus next. Their leadership is defining what’s possible for customers, communities, and the future of the power system amid growing energy demand and the need for reliable, affordable resources.
Utilities sit at the tip of the spear when it comes to this transformational time for power systems around the world. Success depends on broad engagement across partners, communities, regulators, and technology providers — with utilities leading these conversations and setting direction. Last year’s Summer Seminar highlighted the urgent need to accelerate innovation and collaboration across the energy sector, with a special focus on powering AI and harnessing AI for power system transformation. Key learnings included the importance of building flexibility into grid planning and operations, leveraging standardization and proven solutions to scale quickly, and ensuring that affordability, reliability, and sustainability remain central to every decision. Above all, the event underscored that meeting today’s challenges requires new partnerships, transparent engagement, and a willingness to rethink traditional approaches to deliver value for customers and communities.
This session brings together the CEOs leading this work to examine how last year’s insights have translated into action, what new efforts have taken shape, and where the industry must focus next. Their leadership is defining what’s possible for customers, communities, and the future of the power system amid growing energy demand and the need for reliable, affordable resources.
This session examines a single, real‑world data center project through the perspectives of the developer, utility, regulator, and financier to show what it truly takes to deliver at speed. Panelists share candid insights on the decisions, tradeoffs, and friction points that shaped outcomes across siting, permitting, interconnection, and financing. Attendees will leave with practical lessons on how earlier alignment, and smarter coordination, can dramatically accelerate future data center projects.
The mismatch is stark: AI data centers are built in 24 months; the grid takes 10 years. This session moves past the "why" and dives into the "how" of closing the velocity gap. Drawing on EPRI insights, we will dissect the transition from traditional, inflexible interconnection to the blend of flexible, bridge-to-grid, and islanded models required for a modern system. This is not abstract theory, it is a high-stakes dialogue on the specific regulatory and operational tradeoffs required to keep the "good-for-all" grid model alive in an era of unprecedented demand growth.
This session dives into the real-world lessons learned from the first two cohorts of DCFlex projects, highlighting both early successes and unexpected challenges in deploying flexible data center solutions. Attendees will hear firsthand accounts from project leaders and participants, exploring what worked, what didn’t, and how these insights are shaping the next phase of DCFlex innovation. Attendees will discover actionable takeaways and strategies for accelerating flexibility and value in future deployments.
In this short keynote, we will revisit the affordability case for flexibility highlighted at Summer Seminar 2024 and extend it to an increasingly urgent priority: speed to market for large loads. He will reflect on progress in deploying load flexible devices and explain why flexibility is now emerging as a planning and interconnection enabler, not just a cost lever. Our speaker will highlight how Mercury and FLEXIT are helping translate device level flexibility into predictable, scalable resources, setting the stage for the panel discussion on lessons learned from large load flexibility through DCFlex.
In this two speaker session, discover how AI is expanding the art of the possible, turning today’s imagination into tomorrow’s impact on how we plan and operate the power system of the future.
The How - Real-World Takeaways from AI Deployments
This session explores the how behind the wow, understanding practical insights from real-world AI deployments across the energy sector. Attendees will hear candid stories about what worked, what didn’t, and the unexpected lessons learned along the way. Walk away with actionable takeaways to guide your own AI initiatives—from pilot to scaled impact.
As load growth surges, supply chains have become a defining constraint on reliability and affordability. This conversation examines where delays originate, how companies are adapting, and what coordination across industry and government is required to move faster.
AI is becoming a core operational capability for utilities, but scaling it responsibly requires a clear governance and model alignment framework that utilities can apply in practice. This session focuses on how utilities can develop and operationalize an AI governance and alignment framework grounded in real-world AI use cases currently being explored across grid planning, operations, and enterprise workflows. The discussion will examine how principles of Safety, Accountability, Fairness, and Ethics can be structured into a practical framework, ensuring AI systems remain aligned with organizational objectives, regulatory expectations, and the reliability standards that underpin utility operations.
This session explores how both utilities and data centers can deliver affordable, reliable power while building the trust and acceptance of the communities they impact. Panelists will share innovative strategies for balancing cost control and rapid growth with meaningful community engagement and transparent communication. Real-world examples will highlight how collaborative approaches - such as equitable program design, local investment, and shared benefits - can address concerns and foster lasting partnerships. Attendees will gain actionable insights for aligning utility and data center objectives with community priorities, ensuring sustainable progress in an era of transformation.
This fireside chat will explore how large AI driven data centers interact with the electric grid and the imperative for grid operators and data center owners and operators to work collaboratively to ensure reliability as power demand accelerates. The discussion will examine both the challenges data centers can pose to grid operations, including rapid load changes, power quality impacts, and ride through behavior, and the emerging opportunities to design and operate data centers as grid supportive assets capable of providing reliability services. Drawing on global perspectives, the session will feature insights from North America, where NERC oversees bulk power system reliability, and from Europe, where RTE and Schneider are actively assessing how data centers in France can support grid reliability through advanced design and operational strategies.
From national labs to industry, the tools of discovery are evolving rapidly. Argonne’s role in the DOE GENESIS mission highlights how AI, advanced modeling, and integrated research platforms are redefining how breakthroughs happen. This session previews a future where human ingenuity is amplified by intelligent systems, leading directly into how AI is reshaping work itself.
This session explores how AI is augmenting the workforce by empowering employees with advanced tools, insights, and collaborative capabilities. Attendees will discover real-world examples of AI-driven upskilling, productivity gains, and the creation of new roles that blend human ingenuity with intelligent automation. Join us to learn how organizations can harness AI to unlock workforce potential, foster adaptability, and drive meaningful impact in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.
Arshad Mansoor Moderator
President and Chief Executive Officer, EPRI
Brian Bolster President and Chief Executive Officer, NextEra Energy Resources
Lisa Barton President and Chief Executive Officer, Alliant Energy Corporation
Andrew Flanagan
Chief Executive Officer, RWE Americas
David Victor
Moderator Professor of Innovation and Public Policy, Co-director UCSD Initiative on Deep Decarbonization, UC San Diego
Chris Crosby Chief Executive Officer, Compass Datacenters
Robb Stamey
Partner, Stamey Cattle Company
Craig Goodson Director of Economic Development, Iredell County Economic Development Corporation
Rob Chapman
Moderator
Executive Vice President, Chief Customer & Commercial Officer, EPRI
Neva Espinoza
Moderator
Senior Vice President, Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources and Chief Generation Officer, EPRI
Lea Márquez Peterson
Commissioner, Arizona Corporation Commission
Kelly Tomblin
President and Chief Executive Officer, El Paso Electric
Danielle Sugarman Managing Director and Deputy Head Investment Stewardship, Blackrock
Devrim Celal Chief Flexibility and Marketing Officer, Kraken
David Porter
Moderator
Vice President Electrification & Sustainable Energy Strategy, EPRI
Ellen Zuckerman
Head of Energy Market Development for North & South America, Google
John McFarland
SVP & Chief Commercial, Customer & Digital Officer, Portland General Electric
Sean James Distinguished Engineer – Energy Systems, NVIDIA
Xing Wang CTO for Power & Utilities, AWS Energy and Utilities
Ruben Llanes CEO, Digital Grid, Schneider Electric
Daniel Brooks
Moderator
Senior Vice President, Energy Delivery & Customer Solutions, EPRI
Bonnie Titone Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Duke Energy
Jérôme Quénu
Head of Energy Procurement Department, EDF
Ajay Waghray
Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, PG&E
Graham Henley
Chief Executive Officer of the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers
Peter Battaglia
Senior Director of Research, Sustainability Program, Google DeepMind
Hans Brown
Chief Information Technology Officer, Southern Company
Remi Raphael
Moderator Chief AI Officer, EPRI
Mike Innocenzo Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Exelon
Katherine Peretick
Moderator
Commissioner, Michigan Public Service Commission and EPRI Advisory Council Chair
Todd Malan Executive Vice President, Government Relations & External Affairs, QTS Data Centers
Phillip May President and CEO, Entergy Louisiana
Laura Jay
Deputy Director, Climate Mayors
Jim Robb
President and CEO, North American Electric Reliability Corporation
Daniel Brooks
Moderator
Senior Vice President, Energy Delivery & Customer Solutions, EPRI
Marc Palumbo
General Manager, Risk Management, Microsoft
Arch Rao
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SPAN
Steven Powell
President and Chief Executive Officer, Southern California Edison
Todd Conner Senior Vice President, Distribution,
Xcel Energy
How AI Will Rewire Power
Beyond Digital
9:00 – 9:15 AM
Chetan Dube Founder and CEO, Quant
In this fast‑paced, futuristic talk, a leading AI thinker explores how advances in AI could fundamentally transform how energy systems are planned, operated, and optimized. The session offers a glimpse of what’s coming next, and what utilities and energy leaders should start preparing for now.
Jim Poole
Vice President of Product Development, American Tower
SESSION 1
SESSION 2
Michael Caravaggio
Vice President Energy Supply – Fleet Reliability, EPRI
Hanna Grene
Moderator
Global Go-to-Market & Innovation Leader, Energy & Resources, Energy Industry for the Americas
Jeremy Renshaw Director Open Power AI, EPRI
Ben Sooter
Agentic AI Initiatives & Distributed AI Architecture, EPRI
Brad Harbidge
Sr. Director, Megapack Americas, Tesla Energy
Chris Parkinson Co-founder & CEO, Optaric
WHY PARK CITY
DOWNLOAD AGENDA
Claus Daniel
Associate Lab Director, Argonne National Lab
Autumn Moulder
Senior Vice President of Engineering, Cohere
Arshad Mansoor President and Chief Executive Officer, EPRI
Arshad Mansoor President and Chief Executive Officer, EPRI
Matthew Ketschke President, Con Edison of New York