Chip-to-Grid: Aligning Communities, Utilities, and Industry for Smarter Growth

How communities, utilities, large load customers and regulators can collaborate to ensure energy growth that strengthens both the economy and the grid.

This in-depth, interactive tutorial will equip participants with a practical playbook for navigating the gigawatt-scale surge in electricity demand. The session kicks off with a keynote framing the scale of the challenge and the pivotal decisions facing regions across the country. A panel of utility leaders, large energy users, and policymakers will explore real-world strategies, trade-offs, and tensions playing out on the ground. Attendees will engage with a detailed case study—such as Loudoun County—to uncover tools and approaches for balancing reliability, sustainability, and economic development. Next, participants will break into table groups led by energy planning stakeholders—such as representatives from economic development agencies, utilities, data centers, energy developers, and tech providers—giving them the chance to learn how different players are approaching long-term energy planning. Attendees will rotate three times, engaging with multiple perspectives and innovative models for partnership. The session will close with an innovations showcase of actionable tools, partnerships, and policies to address fast-growing demand.