Transmission 2026: Durable infrastructure and regulations for a new digital age

  • Tue, March 17, 2026 • 9:30 am ET
  • Atlantic Council Headquarters
  • 1400 L Street NW • Floor 11
  • Washington, DC 20005

Grid operators, regulators, and experts gather for a conversation on innovative strategies for the buildout and operation of power grids to accommodate new generators and historic demand growth, including from AI workloads.

On Tuesday, March 17 at 9:30 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center will host a forward-looking discussion on the investments, innovations, and policies that could drive the buildout of transmission and distribution infrastructure across North American power grids in 2026.

The imperative to upgrade and expand the power grid grows stronger every year as aging energy infrastructure and rapid electricity demand growth drive a huge need for investment. Expanding energy infrastructure is critical not only for delivering low-cost and reliable power in the United States, but also to enable the United States and its partners to develop and implement a leadership position in the artificial intelligence (AI) economy.

New policy: In-person attendees will be required to show photo ID upon arrival, and no on-site registration will be permitted. Guests will not be admitted later than twenty minutes after the event’s start time.

Please complete the form below to register for this event.

Speakers

Reed Blakemore
Director of Research and Programs, Global Energy Center,
Atlantic Council

Landon Derentz
Vice President, Energy Infrastructure, Senior Director, Global Energy Center, Morningstar Chair for Global Energy Security,
Atlantic Council

John Miller
Director of Policy, Transmission,
Clean Energy Buyers Association

Raquel Pichardo
Co-Founder, Managing Partner
The Groundwire Group

David Yellen
Director, Climate Policy Innovation, Clean Air Task Force
Nonresident Fellow, Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council

Zach Zimmerman
Director of Research and Policy
Grid Strategies LLC

Agenda

9:30–9:35 a.m. | Welcome remarks

Featuring

Reed Blakemore
Director of Research and Programs, Global Energy Center,
Atlantic Council

9:35–9:45 a.m. | Keynote remarks

To be announced. 

9:45–10:25 a.m. | Evaluating new approaches to grid interconnection and ratemaking

Featuring

John Miller
Director of Policy, Transmission,
Clean Energy Buyers Association

10:25–10:55 a.m. | Innovations in grid planning and market design

Featuring

Raquel Pichardo
Co-Founder, Managing Partner,
The Groundwire Group

Zach Zimmerman
Director of Research and Policy,
Grid Strategies LLC

Moderated by

David Yellen
Director, Climate Policy Innovation, Clean Air Task Force
Nonresident Fellow, Global Energy Center, Atlantic Council

10:55–11:00 a.m. | Closing remarks

Featuring 

Landon Derentz
Vice President, Energy Infrastructure, Senior Director,
Global Energy Center, Morningstar Chair for Global Energy Security,
Atlantic Council

Featured report

Issue Brief

Mar 3, 2026

Expanding transmission infrastructure to achieve low-cost, reliable, and abundant energy

By Ken Berlin, Frank Willey

With demand for electricity rising, the United States needs a long-term strategy to expand the power grid and improve energy reliability and affordability.

Energy & Environment Renewables & Advanced Energy

Explore the program

The Global Energy Center develops and promotes pragmatic and nonpartisan policy solutions designed to advance global energy security, enhance economic opportunity, and accelerate pathways to net-zero emissions.

learn more

Atlantic Council TV

Watch this event and more content on ACTV

Follow the conversations shaping our world. Available on all major platforms.

Start watching