⚡ US Grid Instability Threatens AI Growth (w/AI Collective Hartford)

Artificial Intelligence is advancing at an unprecedented pace, but its growth faces a critical bottleneck: the power grid. Join AI Collective Hartford for an engaging informational and educational session with Brenda Lewis, Principal at Transactions Marketing, Inc. (TMI) and founder of TechXel Stamford.

In this session, Brenda will break down the complex realities of our electrical infrastructure, exploring how planned AI data center energy demands compare to grid capacity through 2030, the risks of aging power transformers and gas pipelines, geographic single-points-of-failure (such as the PJM grid in Northern Virginia), and international energy dependencies. We'll also examine practical risk-mitigation strategies, including Behind-the-Meter (BTM) power, microgrids, and alternative cloud infrastructure. Whether you build with AI, manage tech infrastructure, or are simply curious about the energy powering our digital future, this talk offers essential perspective on the intersection of AI compute and power grid resilience.

🎙️ About the Speaker

Brenda Lewis is the Principal of Stamford-based Transactions Marketing, Inc. (TMI), a 43-year-old firm focused on launching and funding B2B mission-critical technology ventures. TMI boasts a 75% venture success rate in a market where 9 out of 10 ventures fail. Brenda is also the founder of TechXel Stamford, Connecticut’s first B2B tech accelerator. Her career spans 15 years at Exxon International, Marine Management Systems, and Pechiney Ugine Kuhlmann, holding degrees from Smith College (cum laude), an MBA from UConn, and executive certifications from Harvard Business School and NYU.

📅 Event Agenda

5:30 PM: Check-in, Refreshments & Networking

6:00 PM: Welcome & Community Kickoff (Nisreen Cain)

6:15 PM: Educational Presentation & Q&A (Brenda Lewis)

👥 Who Should Attend?

Anyone curious about AI, data centers, energy infrastructure, cloud technology, or the future of power grid resilience!

Please be advised: Unfortunately, space is very limited at these community events and we can not always accept everyone we would like to. If you are not accepted to this event, please keep applying! We appreciate your application tremendously and we are looking forward to seeing you at a future event very soon!

The AI Collective is a global non-profit building the human layer for the AI era. We unite 200,000+ leaders, builders, and stakeholders across 100+ forums worldwide to democratize the frontier, build trust, and coordinate how society navigates the rapid acceleration of technological progress.

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