Join the New York Energy Forum and Bloomberg for a series of discussions at the intersection of artificial intelligence, energy, geopolitics and politics, just days before the midterm elections.
Energy availability, combined with political and social factors, will fundamentally determine which nations emerge as leaders in artificial intelligence. While the United States benefits from abundant energy resources, it faces mounting political and regulatory headwinds at home. Roughly 7 in 10 Americans oppose a data center being built near them, and data centers and power prices have become live issues on the campaign trail, even as the buildout becomes central to US competitiveness abroad.
Most conversations on AI and energy stop at megawatts and capex. This one asks who gets permission to build, and what the outcome in November means for the global race.
From geopolitics to the grid to the ballot box, an evening of candid discussion leads into a cocktail reception with senior investors, industry leaders and policymakers shaping how, and where, AI gets built.
SPEAKERS:
Arushi Sharma Frank
Arushi Sharma Frank is Founder & Principal of Luminary Strategies. She is a STEM scholar, investor, and grids policy architect. She has originated multiple complex tech-to-grid programs, unlocking gigawatts-scale opportunities to help power people and AI. Her venture studio at @LuminaryStrategies has enabled multiple AI/energy infrastructure founders, including the award-winning teams at Base Power Company and Emerald AI. Her platform, Prosperous Infrastructure, recently onboarded Powertown, and V-Wire, both working on hard tech and soft tech solutions for the AI and grid resilience era. Her leadership in ERCOT market design is unparalleled, where she has originated grid scale battery integration, residential battery virtual power plants, and flexible-to-firm AI load programs. She is a nonresident expert at CSIS, and on multiple energy-AI advisory boards in Washington DC.
Carolyn Kissane
Carolyn Kissane serves as the Associate Dean of New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and Director of NYU’s SPS Energy, Climate Justice, and Sustainability Lab. Carolyn Kissane’s areas of thought leadership and entrepreneurship include the Energy Transition, Sustainability Innovation, and Policy, as well as Cybersecurity. Dr. Kissane is a lifetime member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the National Committee on US-China Relations. She serves on the boards of the New York Energy Forum, New York Energy Week, and Clean Start Advisory Board. She was awarded Breaking Energy’s Top Ten New York Women in Energy and Top Ten Energy Communicator. She hosts Fueling our Future, which brings energy and environment experts together for discussion and debate. Dr. Kissane received her Ph.D. from Columbia University.
Hugh Bromley
Hugh Bromley is BNEF’s lead US Data Center Specialist, and has more than a decade of experience helping companies and policymakers navigate the energy and ecological transition. Hugh has previously led BNEF’s Sustainable Agriculture research, and consumer research teams, understanding how new technologies like alternative proteins, solar PV and batteries can disrupt markets. Before that Hugh lead clean energy research for North America, producing analyses on distributed energy, utility strategy, and carbon markets within the firm’s Australia research team. Prior to BNEF, Hugh worked as an energy consultant focusing on smart-grid and distributed technology integration. He holds a BE (Hons) in photovoltaic engineering from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
Michael Deng
Michael Deng is the Geoeconomics Technology Analyst at Bloomberg Economics, specializing in critical and emerging technology policy, including semiconductor supply chains, US export controls, and AI. He joined Bloomberg after serving as a Policy Advisor at the US Department of Commerce for both the CHIPS Program Office and the Bureau of Industry and Security. Michael holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School and a B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University.
MODERATOR:
Michael Tran
Michael Tran is a Managing Director and Head of Digital Research and Digital Intelligence Strategy at RBC Capital Markets. He has spent nearly 20 years in the energy markets in research, sales and trading and investment banking with major banks like UBS based in London and energy trading platforms like BP based in Calgary.
Michael’s energy views are frequently quoted in media outlets and he routinely appears on television networks like Bloomberg, CNN and BNN. He is a frequent advisor to both the Canadian Federal and Alberta government on issues pertaining to energy policy and budgeting. Michael is also a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. He serves on the Advisory Boards of Orbital Insight, a Silicon Valley based Artificial Intelligence company and Workrise, the source to pay solution build for energy. He also serves on the Board of the New York Energy Forum and on the Business Committee of the US Association of Energy Economists (USAEE). He graduated with distinction from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Economics.
PROGRAM:
4:00 - 4:30 PM Registration and Guest Reception
4:30 - 5:00 PM Keynote + Fireside Chat: The Geoeconomics of AI
Michael Deng, Geoeconomics Technology Analyst, Bloomberg Economics
In conversation with Michael Tran, Managing Director and Head of Digital Research & Digital Intelligence Strategy, RBC Capital Markets
- Chips, export controls and the global contest for AI leadership, and where the US stands
5:00 - 6:00 PM Panel Discussion: Energy, Politics and the AI Buildout
Arushi Sharma Frank, Founder & Principal, Luminary Strategies
Carolyn Kissane, Associate Dean, Center for Global Affairs, NYU
Hugh Bromley, BloombergNEF
Moderated by Michael Tran, Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets
- How will the grid meet AI’s energy demands, and is the bottleneck physical, technical, or political?
- Can hyperscalers engineer around the politics through behind-the-meter power, SMRs and natural gas?
- How are data centers, energy affordability, water and jobs shaping the midterms and beyond?
- Does AI accelerate or delay the energy transition?
- What does a globally competitive, publicly supported AI framework look like, and who wins the race?
6:00 - 7:00 PM Cocktail Reception
REGISTRATION:
THIS EVENT IS IN PERSON ONLY. THE DISCUSSION WILL BE UNDER THE CHATHAM HOUSE RULE.
RSVP HERE
QUESTIONS:
We would be pleased to answer any questions you might have about The Energy Forum, Inc. or about this session. Please contact info@nyenergyforum.org.