AI is driving a historic buildout of digital infrastructure. As compute demands surge, data centers are expanding at an unprecedented pace — bringing rapid growth in electricity consumption, new pressures on grid capacity, and rising demand for water to cool advanced systems.

Data Centers, Water, and Power — the next edition of the LBJ Business Policy Forum — will examine how this transformation intersects with communities and public policy. What does the rapid expansion of data centers mean for local water systems, electricity reliability, land use, and economic development? How should policymakers balance the promise of AI-driven growth with responsible stewardship of natural resources? And what policy tools — at the local, state, and federal levels — are needed to modernize infrastructure while safeguarding public trust?

Grounded in the LBJ School’s focus on practical, bipartisan problem-solving, this forum will bring together industry leaders, policy experts, and scholars to discuss how the United States can power the AI economy responsibly and competitively. The policy choices we make now will shape America’s leadership in the AI age — and their impact on the communities that host this infrastructure.

RSVP.