Groundswell Announces National Keynote Speakers for the 2026 Rural Renaissance Roadshow
Leaders in energy, public power, policy, local governance, and technology will help frame national conversations about data centers and the future of rural communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. — July 30, 2026 — Groundswell today announced the national keynote speakers for the 2026 Rural Renaissance Roadshow, taking place November 4–6, 2026, at the Cook Museum of Natural Science in Decatur, Alabama.
The keynote announcement builds on the recently unveiled Roadshow program, which will convene 300 leaders from local government, Tribal Nations, utilities, technology companies, agriculture, philanthropy, academia, nonprofits, and community organizations to examine the interconnected impacts of data-center growth, energy demand, water use, land development, and economic opportunity.
This year’s theme is:
At the Data Center Crossroads
Land • Energy • Water • The Future of Rural Power
The Roadshow’s keynote speakers bring experience spanning community energy planning, public power, federal and state policy, local sovereignty, economic development, technology, government innovation, and public service.
CONFIRMED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Morning Keynote
The Data Center Next Door?
Mapping Land, Water, and Energy
AI data center development is expanding rapidly, bringing new questions around energy demand and infrastructure, land availability, and water use. Sherry Stout will kick off the main day of the Roadshow with a keynote that grounds attendees in the evolving landscape we’re operating in, featuring national-scale maps on data center infrastructure and energy demand, alongside technical insights for local communities developed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Sherry Stout
Laboratory Program Manager for State, Local, and Tribal Activities
National Laboratory of the Rockies
Sherry Stout is the laboratory program manager for NLR’s State, Local, and Tribal activities, a program that supports numerous community-based collaborations in planning and development, workforce training, and energy deployment research. Sherry has built and/or led multiple technical assistance programs and projects at NLR to serve a diverse group of stakeholders, ranging from American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages to international governments and federal agencies. She is keenly interested in finding ways to better enable partner governments and stakeholders to achieve their energy goals through delivery of technical expertise.
Lunch Keynotes
Law & Policy: Federal, State, and Local Strategies
The featured lunch keynote conversations will examine how decisions across federal, state, and local government shape public power, economic development, local sovereignty, infrastructure, and community opportunity.
The Future is Public Power
As utilities race to build the energy infrastructure needed to power a new generation of AI data centers, questions are rising about who pays, how we plan for it, and who benefits. Grayson Flood will discuss how federal, state, and local leaders can seize this moment to rethink the nation’s energy system through public power, strategic investment, and modern grid policy. He’ll explore the tools available to expand grid capacity, lower energy costs for households, support economic development, and ensure communities – not just large corporate energy users – share in the benefits of the grid of the future.
Grayson Flood
Senior Fellow
Groundwork Collaborative
Grayson Flood previously served as legislative director and policy adviser to Congresswoman
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, managing her legislative portfolio and advising on energy, labor, housing, and trade. He also supported her work on the House Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Resources. Earlier in his career, Grayson held roles in the nonprofit and private energy sectors and served in policy and leadership positions for successful state legislative and electoral campaigns. He holds a degree in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Power, Place, and Prosperity: Data Centers Done Right
Data centers are arriving in rural counties faster than local governments can prepare for them. Sarah Hunt and Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner discuss what it takes to bring one to your community responsibly — to the environment, economy, and culture of rural America. They’ll cover the questions to ask before the first shovel, the state and local tools at your disposal, how to negotiate beyond a standard community benefits agreement, incorporating clean energy, zoning, permitting, and other legal considerations.
Sarah E. Hunt
President
Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy
Sarah E. Hunt is a leader working at the intersection of climate advocacy, technology, and democracy. As President of the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy, she leads the development of policy solutions and leadership programs addressing critical national challenges. Her earlier work included launching clean-energy and climate programs at the American Legislative Exchange Council and the Niskanen Center, as well as practicing political law. Sarah holds advanced degrees in law, international environmental law, and global advocacy and is admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., Oregon, and the Ninth Circuit.
Amelia Powers Gardner
Utah County Commissioner
Amelia Powers Gardner is a nationally recognized government innovation leader completing her final year as a Utah County Commissioner after eight years of elected service. She has led initiatives in digital government, election administration, cybersecurity, and emerging technology, including blockchain-enabled credentials and accessible voting. Before entering public service, Amelia spent more than 15 years in engineering, manufacturing, and business development. She serves in national and statewide technology-policy leadership roles and was named one of Government Technology’s Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Communities across the country are asking the same questions about data centers.
• How do communities maintain local control over development?
• How do we prepare for growing electricity demand?
• How do we make energy more affordable for people?
• How do we protect our water resources while supporting economic opportunity?
• How do we preserve working lands while welcoming investment?
• How can economic growth create lasting prosperity?
The Roadshow will bring together an intersectional community of people and organizations confronting these questions including community representatives, local elected officials, utilities, Tribal leaders, farmers, technology companies, philanthropy, researchers, nonprofit organizations, and policymakers to explore practical, community-centered solutions for one of the most significant infrastructure transitions of our time.
A PROGRAM BUILT AROUND COMMUNITY PRIORITIES
The 2026 program features four integrated conference tracks:
• Energy
• Water
• Land
• Economic Development
Each track is connected by four shared priorities:
• Affordability
• Infrastructure
• Local Control
• Conservation & Stewardship
Featured conversations will address topics including community benefit agreements, data-center impacts on energy, land, and water, public power and energy affordability, working lands and agriculture, community resilience, and rural workforce development.
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Media will have opportunities to cover:
• Interviews with keynote speakers
• Executive interviews with Groundswell leadership
• Federal, state, and local policy perspectives
• Public power and energy-affordability issues
• Data-center impacts on rural communities and Tribal Nations
• Track Convener and featured-speaker announcements
• Community resilience and economic-development stories
• Rural Power Award recipients
• Podcast interviews and program features
• Live coverage from Decatur in November
• Post-event reporting and analysis
EVENT INFORMATION
2026 Rural Renaissance Roadshow
November 4–6, 2026
Decatur, Alabama
Early Bird Registration is $100 and is available through August 20, 2026, and includes access to keynote sessions, educational breakout conversations, interactive workshops, networking opportunities, the Rural Power Awards, and Congress for Rural Resilience programming. Official conference accommodations are available through the DoubleTree by Hilton Decatur Riverfront at a discounted conference rate.
Registration, hotel accommodations, and sponsorship information are available at RuralRenaissance.com.
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About Groundswell
Groundswell builds community power to support local resilience and cut electricity bills in half for our neighbors who need savings the most. We deliver community solar, resilience hubs, and residential energy efficiency to preserve affordable housing, strengthen the grid, and support local economic development. Founded in 2009, Groundswell joyfully serves rural, small-town, and urban communities in the Heartland, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast.