More than 100 Capitol Hill staff joined artificial intelligence (AI) experts from the Business Software Alliance for a briefing on the transformative impact of AI across energy generation, distribution, and consumption.
As part of BSA’s signature cross-sector initiative, the Digital Transformation Network (DTN), congressional staff heard directly from industry-leading experts about how AI is revolutionizing every aspect of the energy sector, from optimizing power generation and enhancing grid resilience to empowering consumers with smarter energy choices. The speakers shared insights into how AI is making the energy transition possible while addressing unprecedented global demand and the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources.
Geoff Browning, Director of Global Government Affairs & Public Policy at ServiceNow, noted that utility companies might use AI to track many different systems and operational technology – both for traditional maintenance and to anticipate incoming issues like cybersecurity threats.
“Large utilities may have many moving pieces to track, and it’s now possible for them to track those in real-time using AI tools,” Browning said. “Organizations are making critical decisions right now about AI deployment, governance, and oversight. It’s critical that they have an ‘AI Control Tower’ to operationalize those decisions.”
The briefing also addressed how companies like Bentley Systems’ digital twin solutions help utility builders and operators indicate when they need maintenance or to address systemic issues.
“How we think about it at Bentley is to use data to generate a digital twin that incorporates design, operation, and construction data that no human is going to be able to process,” said Ruth Sleeter, Chief Information Officer for Bentley Systems. “AI gives us a way of extracting really important insights for designers or operators of hugely significant infrastructure.”
The briefing highlighted how utility companies worldwide are at the center of a seismic shift, with electric, water, and gas grids facing unprecedented demand from growing populations. Unlike traditional energy sources, renewable sources like wind and solar require real-time adjustments to balance supply and demand—a challenge perfectly suited for AI capabilities.
“We have to use technology to optimize both generation and service load,” said Russ Groffman, Vice President at NextEra Energy Resources, adding that data center demand also invites more power generation from renewable sources. “We think about issues like generation and regeneration of power, transmission and storage, where do those have to be to meet the load demand, and how we’re going to meet that demand.”
“I do think states are trying to address this challenge of wanting to welcome data centers and support AI development but also make sure customers aren’t impacted by that,” added Andrew Malcolm, Senior Vice President of Federal Government Affairs & Public Policy at Constellation Energy Group. “The demand is coming. It’s best to have it come from a contracted generation at existing plans to help to allow for better planning.”
The panel was moderated by BSA Senior Director of Legislative Strategy Danielle Brown and featured Browning, Groffman, Malcolm, and Sleeter.
Read the full AI in Energy Utilities report here.