The Electric Slide – AI, Data Centers, and Counties #MACoCon

Explore how AI and data center growth is reshaping energy demand, infrastructure, affordability, land use, and economic development for Maryland counties.

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence and data centers presents important opportunities and challenges for counties. These facilities can support economic development and expand the local tax base, but they also create significant demands on critical infrastructure. Counties must balance competing considerations to ensure development occurs responsibly and that surrounding communities share in the benefits.

Title: The Electric Slide – AI, Data Centers, and Counties 

Description: As Maryland leans into a more digital economy, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence is colliding with aging energy infrastructure, pressures on affordability, and reliability challenges. This panel will explore how new electric demand—especially from data centers—could affect energy prices and capacity constraints, and how those pressures may reshape energy markets, infrastructure siting, and local budgets. County leaders will learn how federal, state, and local policymakers are weighing these trade-offs and what it means for local land use, ratepayers, and long-term economic development. 

Speaker:  

  • Kelly Speakes-Backman, Director, Maryland Energy Administration 
  • Jason M. Stanek, Executive Director of Governmental Services, PJM 
  • Mason Emnett, Senior Vice President of Public Policy, Constellation Energy 
  • David S. Lapp, People’s Counsel, Maryland Office of People’s Counsel 

Moderator: 

  • The Honorable David Fraser-Hidalgo, Maryland House of Delegates 

Date/Time: Friday, August 14, 2026; 9:00 am – 10:00 am 

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: