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The third 2026 Policy Masterclass, Dealing with Data Centers: How States Are Addressing Resource Needs of Power Users, brought Southern state policymakers together Sept. 22-24 in Northern Virginia to examine the growing role of data centers in the digital economy and the resources required to support them. With data centers relying on significant amounts of electricity, water, and supporting infrastructure, their continued development presents a range of considerations for state policymakers. The three-day program provided an opportunity to better understand the industry, its infrastructure needs, and the policy frameworks states are using to examine these issues.
The Masterclass began with an overview of the data center industry before turning to the infrastructure and resources connected to development. Participants examined electricity and transmission planning, grid capacity, water resources, cooling technologies, and community infrastructure. Discussions also considered how states track resource consumption, approach efficiency, and develop regulatory frameworks as they evaluate data center activity. These sessions gave participants context on the systems that support data center operations and the range of factors involved in planning for future development.
The program also included a site visit to data center facilities in Northern Virginia, allowing participants to see data center operations and infrastructure firsthand. Additional sessions addressed public engagement, transparency and crisis response, state policy frameworks and industry perspectives. Bringing together perspectives from industry, government and utilities, the Masterclass gave participants an opportunity to examine the infrastructure and resource considerations associated with data center development. It was the third and final program in the 2026 Policy Masterclass Series, which provides Southern state policymakers and staff with opportunities to examine complex policy topics through expert perspectives, state and regional examples, site visits, and peer exchange.
Participants
- Kathie Hess Crouse, delegate, West Virginia
- Denise Ennett, representative, Arkansas
- Jeremy Faison, representative, Tennessee
- Hillman Frazier, senator, Mississippi
- Marty Gearheart, delegate, West Virginia
- Vanessa Grossl, representative, Kentucky
- Karen Fleming Hamilton, delegate, Virginia
- Anitra Hamilton, delegate, West Virginia
- Scot Heckert, delegate, West Virginia
- Mark Hendrick, director of government affairs, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce
- Jasper Hendricks III, executive legal assistant, Tennessee
- Tangie Herring, representative, Georgia
- Keturah Herron, senator, Kentucky
- Rick Hillenbrand, delegate, West Virginia
- Karen Keys-Gamarra, delegate, Virginia
- Jack Ladyman, representative, Arkansas
- Donnie Loftis, representative, North Carolina
- Carolyn Logan, representative, North Carolina
- Annie McDaniel, representative, South Carolina
- Robby Mills, senator, Kentucky
- Erica Moore, delegate, West Virginia
- Jeff Myers, representative, Missouri
- David Reid, delegate, Virginia
- Kannan Srinivasan, senator, Virginia
- Daniel Verdin, senator, South Carolina
- Christopher Warwick, representative, Missouri