How Data Center Demand and Artificial Intelligence Affects Power Grids

Return to the three-part Understanding Trends in Energy Technology Virtual Series.

Timing

Attend two real-time sessions from Noon – 3:30 p.m. ET on May 13 and 15. There will be two 10-minute breaks in each session.

Unable to make the live sessions? Recordings will be made available (automatically to those who register) a week after each course takes place.

Delivery Method/Learning Environment

This course is a Group Internet based offering (via Zoom) and combines real-time presentation, polling questions, real-world examples, Q&A and group discussion.

Course Overview

The projections for demand from data centers have skyrocketed in some areas of the country and can vary drastically. Examine the dramatic increase in interconnection requests coming from data centers, particularly how the rise in artificial intelligence feeds the need for electricity and what may happen when large language models move from learning to “inference.” Discuss the uncertainty related to data center cooling efficiencies, the competitive dynamics of the AI industry and likelihood of failure, and to what degree AI poses risks to utility infrastructure and supply contracts and utility financial health.

Course Topics

How utilities are preparing for projected power demand from data centers
The distinction between ‘typical’ data centers and what AI-driven data centers need and are trying to accomplish
How AI works, where it’s headed, and what it could mean for demand and energy efficiency
Recent regulatory filings and decisions that could shape AI’s evolution
Potential utility applications for AI, including forecasting more granular locational demand, integrating variable resources, improving situational awareness, and increasing efficiency of transmission systems
Organizational issues, risks and opportunities

Who Should Attend?

Courses in the Understanding Trends in Energy Technology Series are designed for utility staff and policymakers who already have a basic level of industry knowledge/experience and are looking for a deeper contextual understanding of how electric vehicles, energy storage, and artificial intelligence will evolve and affect the power grid. Attendees will gain critical understanding of the key challenges, opportunities, and benefits related to these technologies.

Course Level

Basic/Intermediate. A basic level of industry knowledge on distributed energy resource fundamentals and components is needed, as these courses quickly dive into the high-level trends, strategies, and metrics around the various technologies and their grid impacts.

For those looking for more comprehensive training, it is highly recommended that you attend this course in conjunction with APPA’s Electric Vehicles and the Utility (April 15 & 17) and Evaluating Batteries and Other Energy Storage Technologies (April 29 & 30) virtual courses. A discounted bundled rate is available.

Technology Requirements

Zoom Meeting Application: Attendees are required to have strong Internet access, in order to run the Zoom meeting platform.
Audio/Webcam: You will need to enable computer audio to listen and speak (alternatively a call-in number will be provided) and we recommend a webcam, so you can fully engage in the group discussions.
Additional details on the Zoom platform can be found under the “More Information” tab.

Accreditation

The following continuing education credits will be provided for this Group Internet based event, after successfully completing 90% of the two live sessions. Review the guidelines for successful completion in the “Accreditation” dropdown below.

Recommended CEUs .6/PDHs 5.5 (for both sessions)

Instructor

Peter Kelly-Detwiler, Co-founder, NorthBridge Energy Partners

Peter is a strategist and communicator on the rapid pace of transformation to a sustainable energy economy. He draws on more than 35 years of experience in the energy industry, focusing on the development of retail competitive markets, new trends, technologies, regulatory and market developments, and sustainable solutions that create value in the energy space. He is an active contributor at Forbes.com, where he has published more than 300 articles covering a broad variety of topics, including the economics of natural gas supply and electricity generation, evolving supply and demand technologies, the evolution of renewables, and trends affecting the energy industry.

His book, The Energy Switch: How Companies and Customers are Transforming the Electrical Grid and the Future of Power, focuses on innovation and disruption in the electric power industry.

Questions?

Registration/Billing: Registration@PublicPower.org
Schedule/Content/Accreditation: EducationInfo@PublicPower.org

Registration

Register now!

Registration Fees

Registration is for individual access. If you have multiple people interested in attending, group discounts are available.

	Members*
Bundled Series - includes all three courses (Save $300)	$1,495
Individual Courses
Evaluating Batteries and Other Energy Storage Technologies – Apr. 29 & 30	$595
How Data Center Demand and Artificial Intelligence Affects Power Grids – May 13 & 15	$595
Electric Vehicles and the Utility: Opportunities and Challenges – Jun. 3 & 5	$595
*Non-member rates are double the member rates.

Group Discounts

Save money when your organization registers five or more people for the same class or the bundled series. The larger your group, the more you save!

Registrations must be submitted on the same order (at the same time) to qualify for the group discount; discounts cannot be retroactively applied to previous orders.

If you need assistance, contact Registration@PublicPower.org.

Number of registrants	Individual Courses	Bundled Courses
1-4	n/a	n/a
5-9	$50	$150
10-14	$100	$300
15-24	$150	$450
25+	$200	$600

Registration Help

Check out our Registration FAQs for answers to the most common questions and help with all your registration-related issues.

Cancellations/No-Show/Refunds/Substitutions

All events will be recorded and attendees will automatically receive a copy of the recordings, in case you can’t attend live.

Registrants who cancel in writing at least 7 days before the first day of a course are entitled to a refund of their registration fee, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Registrants who cancel after that will not receive a refund, but attendee substitutions will be allowed for this event only. Registrants and no-shows who do not cancel at least 7 days before the course start date are responsible for the full registration fee and are not entitled to a refund.

Cancellation deadlines:

Public Power Forward Series (all three classes): Cancellations must be received on/before April 22
- Evaluating Batteries and Other Energy Storage Technologies: Cancellations must be received on/before April 22
- How Data Center Demand and Artificial Intelligence Affects Power Grids: Cancellations must be received on/before May 6
- Electric Vehicles and the Utility: Opportunities and Challenges: Cancellations must be received on/before May 27

Cancellation requests should be made through your My.PublicPower portal, or addressed to: Registration@PublicPower.org.

Questions?

Registration/Billing: Registration@PublicPower.org
Schedule/Content/Accreditation: EducationInfo@PublicPower.org

Accreditation

Earn While You Learn!

Participate in virtual programs to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs), Professional Development Hours (PDHs) and Continuing Professional Education credits (CPEs).

Accreditation

Each two-part course is worth CEUs .6/PDHs 5.5, upon successful completion.

Requirements for Successful Completion: Virtual

Registration is for individual access, so each person participating must register. If you have multiple people interested in attending, group discounts are available.
Individuals are required to attend and actively participate in 90% of each live session and complete an online evaluation after the last session in a course.
- Attendance: Individuals must attend at least 90% of each live session (based on electronic timestamps in Zoom).
- Participation: Active participation in class will include engagement activities such as: polling/check-in questions, Q&A, and group discussions.
- Activities vary by class: Information on participation will be provided the day before (and during) class. Participation is tracked electronically.
- Online evaluation: Each person must complete an online evaluation after each course concludes.
Partial credit cannot be given for partial attendance.
Attendance is monitored by an APPA staff member during the event, through an online report log, and upon review of the post-event evaluation data
Completion certificates will be available within two weeks of the last session in a live event (for those who meet the requirements) through your APPA member portal (access instructions will be provided).
Virtual sessions are recorded (attendees automatically receive access to recordings within a week of the last session), though continuing education credits can only be given for attending live events. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last session.

Guidelines for group participation in virtual events

If a group is participating in a conference room together, we recommend each person still logs in individually from a laptop to ensure attendance and participation requirements are met (as noted above).
If individual log in is not possible, the organization must designate one person as the main point of contact. Email EducationInfo@PublicPower.org in advance of the virtual event noting this information
- This person will record attendance in the room in the room (we can provide a sample attendance tracker) and ensure attendance and participation from the group throughout.
- Submit the attendance record to APPA within 2 business days of the conclusion of a virtual event.
- Ensure each person fills out the required online evaluation

What educational credits are available?

You can earn the following kinds of continuing education credits for attending live sessions—provided the following requirements are met:

Continuing Education Units (CEUs): The American Public Power Association is accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is authorized to issue the IACET CEU. For information regarding certification status, attendance requirements and obtaining attendee transcripts, contact EducationInfo@PublicPower.org. Verify our IACET Accreditation.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs): The American Public Power Association’s educational practices are consistent with the criteria for awarding Professional Development Hours (PDHs) as established by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). Course eligibility and number of PDHs may vary by state.

Questions?

Registration/Billing: Registration@PublicPower.org
Schedule/Content/Accreditation: EducationInfo@PublicPower.org

Additional Information

Format and Log-In Information

These classes will be offered on the Zoom meeting platform.

Communication

24 hours after registering: You’ll receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of registering, which contains some preliminary information.
24 hours before the event:
- You’ll receive your Zoom log in link the day before the first session in a course (sent from the APPA Academy’s Zoom account <no-reply@zoom.us>)
- You’ll also receive a final logistics email 24 hours in advance of the first class.
  - If you don’t receive this, email EducationInfo@PublicPower.org.

Course Access and Materials

Zoom Links: Zoom log in credentials will be sent out 24 hours before the start of the first session in a class.
Course Materials: Attendees will receive access to course materials the day before each session through the "Documents" section of their My.PublicPower.org user portal.
Recordings: All sessions will be recorded and can be accessed through your user portal as well (within a week of the last class in the program), in case you can’t attend the live versions. Recordings will be accessible for 90 days after the last session. Note: Continuing education credits can only be issued for attending live sessions.

Technology Requirements

Zoom Meeting Application: Attendees are required to have strong Internet access, in order to run the Zoom meeting platform.
Audio/Webcam: You will need to enable computer audio to listen and speak (alternatively a call-in number will be provided) and you will also need a webcam, so you can fully engage in the small group breakout sessions and group discussions.

New to Zoom?

If you haven't participated in a Zoom meeting before, please download the Zoom web client from the Zoom Download Center. This will enable you to access all of the Zoom tools and functionality vs. using the web version. Then, visit Zoom.us/test to ensure you are able to join a meeting.

If you are not able to download the Zoom web client, you can still participate via your Internet browser. We recommend using Chrome for the best results.

Privacy and Security

The American Public Power Association takes your privacy and security very seriously. For this reason, we have put the following security measures in place for this course: