Southeast Power NEXT 2026
About the Event
Southeast Power NEXT is a three-day executive conference organized by Infocast, convening state regulators, electric utilities, data center energy negotiators, and renewable energy developers across the southeastern United States. Taking place November 4–6, 2026, at the Sheraton & Le Méridien Charlotte Hotel Complex in Charlotte, North Carolina, the gathering brings together approximately 500 energy decision-makers, 95 speakers, and 20 content sessions. The 2025 predecessor event drew more than 325 participants and 78 speakers.
Discussion centers on the challenge of meeting rapid data center demand growth across North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi while navigating grid reliability, transmission interconnection queues, customer green tariffs, and state utility commission proceedings on large-load rate structures.
Programming Focus
- Data center power procurement strategies, large load interconnection queues, and speed-to-power solutions
- Utility commission responses and public service regulation regarding large load tariffs, cost allocation, and rate affordability
- Balance of gas-fired peaker deployment and decarbonization commitments across regional utility resource plans
- Standalone and co-located battery energy storage deployment for transmission reliability and resilience
- Managing local community pushback and zoning opposition in energy project siting and permitting
- Federal policy shifts and investment tax credit dynamics affecting merchant energy development
Featured Speakers
State Regulators and Public Advocates:
- Christopher J. Ayers, Executive Director, North Carolina Public Staff
- Andrew Bateman, Executive Director, South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff
- Commissioner Jehmal Hudson, Virginia State Corporation Commission
- Commissioner Lauren "Bubba" McDonald, Georgia Public Service Commission
- Commissioner De'Keither Stamps, Mississippi Public Service Commission
- Commissioner Andrew Wood, Kentucky Public Service Commission
- Jamie Barber, Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Unit, Georgia Public Service Commission
Data Center Operators and Tech Buyers:
- Sy Allen, Strategic Negotiator, Energy Market Development, Google
- Katie Southworth, Utility Regulation, Resource Planning, and Electricity Markets, Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA)
Utilities and Transmission Planners:
- William "Bill" Murray, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Communications, Dominion Energy
- Todd R. Flowers, Director, Generation Development, Dominion Energy
- Maura Farver, State Energy Policy Director (NC), Duke Energy
- Laurel Meeks, General Manager, Distributed Energy Group, Duke Energy
- Wilson Mallard, Director, Renewable Development, Georgia Power
- Wes Barber, Transmission Services Manager, Southern Company
- Grant Redding, Manager, Capacity Procurements, Southern Company
- Elizabeth Ingram, Director, Regulatory Strategy, Entergy
- Geoff Penland, Senior Director, State and Federal Government Relations, Santee Cooper
Independent Power Producers and Developers:
- Ben Oberman, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Customer Solutions, Silicon Ranch
- Peter Toomey, Chief Development Officer, Cypress Creek Renewables
- Jeff Jacobs, Director of Development, EDP
- JJ Petti, Director, Interconnection and Grid Strategies, TerraForm Power
- William Rankin, Director, Origination, Origis Energy
- Bret Sowers, Vice President, Government Affairs and Strategy, energyRe
- Lynnae Willette, Director, Regulatory & Legislative Affairs, EDF Power Solutions
Who Should Attend
- Electric utilities, transmission operators, and generation planners
- Data center developers, site selection leads, and energy procurement executives
- State utility commissioners, consumer advocates, and public energy officials
- Renewable generation, energy storage, and microgrid developers
- Infrastructure funds, private equity investors, and project finance lenders
- EPC contractors, electrical equipment manufacturers, and transmission engineering firms
- Energy attorneys, regulatory advisors, and power market consultants
Logistics
- Venue: Sheraton & Le Méridien Charlotte Hotel Complex, 555 S McDowell St, Charlotte, NC 28204
- Room Block: $249 per night (cutoff Tuesday, October 13, 2026)
- Registration: Inquiries and group rates for three or more attendees via registration@infocastevents.com