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AI Loads Dialogue
A by-invitation-only roundtable on scaling AI demand, while protecting reliability and affordability.

A virtual discussion,
co-hosted by Schneider Electric
as a sidecar event to the
Earthshot Foundation’s GRIDIRON Dialogues.

REGISTER

Wednesday, February 25, 2026
1:00-4:00pm ET | 10:00am-1:00pm PT

Virtual (Zoom) | Invitation Only
Capacity is limited; early confirmation is recommended

Chatham House rules apply

Earthshot Foundation’s
Gridiron Dialogues
Gridiron 2025 Logo
The 2025 Gridiron Dialogues is a year-long, cross-sector series convening voices from across the energy landscape to reimagine how we build a more flexible, resilient grid. Each session advances shared solutions and culminates in a 2026 white paper and in-person summit—inviting you to be part of your planet’s future.
GRIDIRON
by the Numbers
6
dialogues
4
webinars
200+
discussants
22+
hours of dialogue
Upcoming in 2026:
2
dialogues
1
in-person finale
1
white paper
About Stored Potential
This 3-hour virtual roundtable brings together leaders from across the energy, data center, technology, and policy ecosystem to examine how growing AI-driven energy demand can scale while ensuring grid reliability and affordability.

The discussion will focus on the practical challenges emerging as large new AI loads come online—how to manage operational risk, align with planning and interconnection processes, and deploy flexibility to reduce system strain. Participants will also examine social license and cost responsibility, including how to protect non-participating ratepayers.

This session is not a webinar. It is a working, off-the-record conversation designed to surface real-world constraints, test emerging solutions, and identify near-term actions needed as AI loads begin to reshape power systems.
Fleet of semi trucks at a warehose
Energy storage containers on a hillside
Why Now?
AI is reshaping data center demand faster than the grid was built to accommodate. Utilities are seeing unprecedented load requests, while developers are exploring hybrid, behind-the-meter, and off-grid solutions to secure power on tighter timelines.

The choices being made now—about reliability, flexibility, and who pays for upgrades—will have long-term impacts on the power system. This roundtable brings leaders together to move past forecasts and focus on practical, near-term solutions that allow innovation to scale while maintaining resiliency and affordability.
The Agenda
This 3-hour virtual session is structured around three focused discussions, with a short break in between.
Part 1:
Reliability & Operational Risk

How fast-growing AI and data center loads are showing up on the grid today—and what flexibility, redundancy, and load management can do to keep systems reliable at the lowest cost.


Part 2:
Social License & Cost Responsibility

How AI-driven growth can scale without shifting costs to ratepayers, and what role behind-the-meter and distributed solutions can play in lowering total system costs.

Part 3:
Breakouts on The Future of Data Centers & AI Loads

Small group breakouts on how data center demand may evolve and what that means for grid connections, distribution networks, and behind-the-meter vs. front-of-the-meter strategies.
Contractors on the roof of a building at sunset with a cityscape in the distance
Who’s at the Table
Participants will include senior leaders from:
  • Data center owners, operators, and developers
  • Hyperscalers and large AI / cloud compute users
  • Utility, grid, and regulatory experts and innovators
  • Power, cooling, and infrastructure technology providers
  • Investors, insurers, and advisors
  • VPP, demand-side, and DER leaders
  • Research and analytics firms
Participation is limited to 20-25 voices
to support candid, in-depth exchange among peers.
How It Works
The session will be hosted on Zoom and held under Chatham House rules.
Participants are free to use insights gained but not attribute comments to specific people or organizations. The goal is an open, constructive conversation where everyone can share freely.
A night view of downtown Los Angeles with the freeway in the foreground
Hosted by Earthshot Foundation,
co-hosted by Schneider Electric.
Learn more about the 2025 Gridiron Dialogues series

Explore the 2025 Gridiron Dialogues
Watch a short film introducing our mission

Be Part of Your Planet’s Future
The Earthshot Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in Washington, DC to: 1) protect and preserve our natural capital and livable planet; 2) accelerate a clean and abundant energy transition; and 3) design prosperous, intelligent, and sustainable systems for all.

We declared long ago that we already know what to do, and that the energy of tomorrow is the energy of today.
We support the motives, truths, practiced methods, and unifying missions of those who show us why and how-to—the Terranauts.

Schneider Electric is a global energy technology leader, driving efficiency and sustainability by electrifying, automating, and digitalizing industries, businesses, and homes. Schneider Electric’s technologies enable buildings, data centers, factories, infrastructure, and grids to operate as open, interconnected ecosystems, enhancing performance, resilience, and sustainability. The company’s portfolio includes intelligent  devices, software-defined architectures, AI-powered systems, digital services, and expert advisory. With 160,000 employees and one million partners in over 100 countries, Schneider Electric is consistently ranked among the world’s most sustainable companies.
GRIDIRON Participants
Abigail Miller
Adam Simon
Aditie Garg
Alex Ghanem
Alex Q.Huang
Alexandra Foucher
Alexandra Foucher
Amy Andryszak
Andrew Harmon
Andrew Mina
Andrew Gilligan
Anna Shpitsberg
Anna Demeo
Anton Patton
Arushi Sharma Frank
Aubrey Johnson
Barbara Tyran
Benjamin Hertz-Shargel
Benton Arnett
Bill Squadron
Bill Livingood
Bill Cawein
Bill Squadron
Bob Maurice
Brian Smith
Bridget Bartol
Bryan Grimaldi
Bryan Stockton
Bryan Jungers
Bryan Hannegan
Cam Schilling
Camilo Serna
Carla Tully
Carrie Zalewski
Charlie Hemmeline
Chase Weir
Chris Richardson
Christina Hayes
Clift Pompee
Clinton O'Neill
Courtney Krause
Craig Aubuchon
Cy McGeady
Dan Pierpoint
Daniel Giese
Danielle Bertoldi
Dave Mullaney
David Minervini
Dmitry Balashov
Doug Arent
Ed Scarborough
Ella Roseman
Emma Hand
Eric Vandenberg
Fabian Villalobos
Farish Mozley
Fred Ashton
Gary Rahl
Hal Corin
Hao Zhu
Heath Knakmuhs
Heather McGeory
Ina Gjika
Ismael Arciniega Rueda
Jack Britt
Jan Brunner
Jana Gerber
Jane Nakano
Jared Temanson
Jason Kaminsky
Jeff Renaud
Jeremy Keen
Jigar Shah
Joe Rand
Jonathan Monken
Jordan Kwok
Jordan Crowe
Joseph Chavez
Joshua Rhodes
Judy O'Brien
Julia Matevosyan
Julia Hamm
Kathleen Robertson
Kevin Huyler
Killian McKenna
Kirsten Verclas
Kyle Davis
Kyle Oliver
Laura Rauch
Laura Schepis
Lesley Jantarasami
Lidija Sekaric
Liza Reed
Lon Huber
Lonnie Mattison
Lori Bird
Lovina McMurchy
Lynne Kiesling
Malcolm Woolf
Mariko Geronimo Aydin
Marji Philips
Mark Glick
Mark Pruitt
Mark Caine
Mark Paterson
Mark Silberg
Matt Bosch
Matt Agen
Matt Meaney
Melissa Alfano
Michael Webber
Michael Yancey
Michael Bowes
Michael Kleinberg
Nick Chaset
Nick Lombardi
Nikki Chiappa
Oisin O'Brien
Patricia Tamez
Paul Bauman
Pier LaFarge
Poorna Mujumdar
Praveen Kathpal
Ravi Manghani
Ray Fakhoury
Richard Meyer
Rish Ghatikar
Robert Bland
Robert Anderson
Roger Fragua
Roger Atkins
Russell Boyer
Ryan Wiser
Ryan Mayfield
Sam Hodas
Schuyler Matteson
Scott Cerreta
Serge Abergel
Shannon Banaga
Shuting Pomerlau
Stephen Figueroa
Steve Martz
Stu Nachmias
Ted Kelly
Ted James
Ted Ko
Terra Argo
Timothy Burdis
Todd Snitchler
Tom Holloway
Travis Annatoyn
Trieu Mai
Tyler Norris
Tyler O'Conner
Venkat Tirupati
Vince Westfallen
Wayne Bezner Kerr
Whitney Muse
Will Rogers
Will Toor
Yasser Bahbaz
Zack Valdez
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