Powering the Future: Key Takeaways from the Cornell Urban Tech Summit on the AI-Era Grid
Last week, Joley Michaelson, Founder & CEO of The Sun Company, joined leading experts at Cornell Tech’s Urban Tech Summit for a crucial discussion, Preparing New York’s Power Grid for the AI Era.
The panel—featuring Max Zhang (Cornell University), Nick Lombardi (NineDot Energy), and Lakshmi Subramaniam (New York Power Authority)—tackled the blunt reality that AI and data center demand are rapidly reshaping the load profile of cities, outpacing the adaptive speed of current infrastructure.
The Blunt Reality of AI Demand
The conversation was grounded in data, highlighting the immense pressure AI is placing on energy and environmental resources —
Growing Public Concern: A recent AP-NORC/EPIC poll indicates 72% of Americans are concerned about the environmental impact of AI
Massive Resource Use: Cornell research projects that by 2030, U.S. AI data centers could use up to 1,125 million cubic meters of water and produce up to 44 million metric tons of CO2 annually.
"The challenge isn’t just generation, it’s precision," noted Michaelson. "As cities plan for the AI era, public opinion and transparent load assessments will shape the path from concept to deployment."
Three Priorities for Urban Grid Resilience
Michaelson underscored that real progress in powering the AI era comes down to precision and built, tested resilience. Based on The Sun Company’s on-the-ground experience, three priorities stand out for cities and operators—
Start with the Load: Reliable urban microgrids must begin with verified, time-series demand data, not optimistic assumptions. This precision determines viability.
Rethink Storage: Infrastructure must be safe and code-compliant. This means prioritizing safer, denser chemistries like zinc-polyiodide REDOX flow to enable indoor installations where reliability matters most.
Engineer Resilience: Microgrids must be explicitly built around critical loads to relieve stress on aging distribution systems and ensure essential services remain online, even as demand accelerates.
The Sun Company is proud to be at the forefront of this dialogue, bridging the gap between what policy encourages and what advanced infrastructure makes possible. We remain committed to delivering the power solutions that sectors—and communities—cannot afford to be without.
The Cornell Urban Tech Summit brings together global leaders shaping the intersection of cities, technology, and sustainability.