The Montgomery Summit 2026• Mar 16, 2026• 30:51ConferencePanel

How the World Will Power the Revolution in AI & Data Centers

From The Montgomery Summit · 2026

Daniel Weiss•Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Angeleno Group

Executive Summary

The convergence of the AI revolution and the electrification of transportation is creating an unprecedented surge in global electricity demand, presenting historic investment opportunities.
This demand is overwhelming an aging and inadequate US electrical grid, making grid modernization and 'grid enhancing technologies' (GETs) a critical and lucrative investment area.
New power generation is dominated by solar and wind, driven by plummeting costs and pure economics, with global clean energy spending now more than double that of hydrocarbons.
Hyperscalers are becoming the primary drivers of the energy revolution, with their projected 2026 capex poised to exceed the combined five-year capex of all US investor-owned utilities.

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Concerns Raised

The aging and inadequate US electrical grid is a major bottleneck to growth.
Long development and permitting timelines for nuclear power prevent it from being a near-term solution.
China's overwhelming dominance in the solar, battery, and EV supply chains poses a significant geopolitical risk.

Opportunities Identified

Investing in 'grid enhancing technologies' (GETs) to modernize critical infrastructure.
Software platforms that optimize the clean energy supply chain and project development.
Independent power producers (IPPs) are direct beneficiaries of the surging electricity demand.
Developing and scaling next-generation energy technologies to establish US leadership and energy independence.

Key Themes

The AI-Energy Nexus

The exponential growth of AI models and data centers is causing a dramatic and unforeseen spike in electricity consumption. This 'load growth' is swamping local grids and creating a massive, urgent need for new power generation to support the tech boom.

This trend creates a direct link between the tech sector's growth and the energy sector's profitability, highlighting investment opportunities in power producers, grid infrastructure, and enabling software.

The Dual Electrification Wave

Alongside the AI boom, the rapid global adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the expansion of autonomous vehicles (AVs) are creating a second major wave of electricity demand. The energy footprint of AVs is particularly large, with over half the power consumed by the supporting data centers.

This dual demand front ensures that the need for electricity will continue to grow for decades, creating a long-term secular tailwind for the entire energy ecosystem, from generation to transmission.

The Economic Dominance of Renewables

New power generation capacity is overwhelmingly dominated by solar (51%) and wind. This shift is driven by a 90%+ cost reduction in solar and storage over the past decade, making renewables the most cost-effective and fastest-to-deploy choice for utilities.

Investment focus should be on the technologies and software platforms that enable the efficient deployment and management of renewable energy sources, as this is where capital is flowing.

Grid Modernization as a Critical Bottleneck

The U.S. electrical grid, with much of its infrastructure being 60-70 years old, is unprepared for the coming demand surge. This creates a critical bottleneck but also a significant investment opportunity in grid-enhancing technologies (GETs) that improve efficiency, reduce line loss, and increase resilience.

Companies that can make the existing grid smarter, more efficient, and more reliable are solving a multi-trillion dollar problem and are poised for significant growth as utilities race to adapt.

Geopolitical Competition in Clean Tech

China currently dominates the global supply chains for solar panels, batteries, and EVs, posing a significant geopolitical risk to the West. While the U.S. leads in AI, it must onshore and innovate in energy production and manufacturing to power that leadership.

This geopolitical tension creates investment opportunities in domestic manufacturing, alternative supply chains, and next-generation energy technologies where the U.S. can establish a competitive advantage.

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