Tennessee Infrastructure Summit 2025: Collaboration and Innovation for the Future

The Tennessee Infrastructure Summit convened industry leaders, stakeholders, and officials to collaborate on infrastructure solutions and share insights. Lindsay attended the event, meeting with Tia Xixis, Chief of Staff of TDOT, Sarah Burnett, Chief of Staff of TN Chamber of Commerce, and Evann Freeman, Vice President of EPB, Community and Government Relations. The summit aimed to shape the future of Tennessee's infrastructure and provide a platform for collaboration and insight-sharing.

The Southeast is poised for a significant shift in electricity demand, driven by a surge in new data centers and manufacturing facilities. To meet this growing demand, utilities and power suppliers must dramatically expand their system capacities. This transformation presents an unparalleled growth opportunity for the renewable energy sector, as customers increasingly demand clean, firm, and reliable energy. However, the path forward is fraught with complexities and uncertainties.

The 10th annual Southeast Renewable Energy Conference, held from November 3 to 5, 2025, at the Whitley in Atlanta, GA, brought together 500 key decision-makers to address these challenges. The event included state policymakers, industrial customers, utility executives, financiers, and renewable developers from across the region, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Key Challenges and Opportunities

The conference highlighted several critical issues and opportunities:

1. Project Execution Uncertainty: Economic and policy shifts, tariffs, trade wars, and prolonged equipment lead times are introducing significant uncertainties into project construction costs, power pricing, and schedules. Traditional procurement processes are being reshaped, requiring innovative solutions.

2. Renewable Finance and M&A Trends: The evolving landscape of renewable finance and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is influencing project development. Attendees discussed emerging trends and strategies to navigate these uncertainties.

3. Regulatory Landscape: The conference explored the ever-changing regulatory environment and its impact on renewable energy projects. Policymakers and industry experts shared insights on potential new policies and contracting methods.

4. Complementary Technologies: The role of complementary technologies beyond solar was discussed. Attendees explored how these technologies can enhance the reliability and efficiency of renewable energy systems.

5. Interconnection Strategies: New interconnection strategies for independent power producers (IPPs) and utility renewable projects were a key topic. The conference provided updates on regional transmission planning changes that could unlock new investment areas.

Featured Speakers and Topics

The event featured prominent industry leaders and experts, including:

- Commissioner Kelsey Bagot from the Virginia State Corporation Commission
- Chair Karen Kemerait from the North Carolina Utilities Commission
- Commissioner De'Keither Stamps from the Mississippi Public Service Commission
- Jamie Barber from Georgia Public Service Commission
- Ryan Brown from EnergyRe
- Kristin Curylo from Southern Company
- Maura Farver from Duke Energy
- Todd R. Flowers from Dominion Energy
- Karen Hall from Duke Energy
- Blan Holman from Pine Gate Renewables
- Chris Lane from Origis Energy
- Wilson Mallard from Georgia Power
- Ben Oberman from Silicon Ranch Corporation
- Mike Quinto from Duke Energy
- William Rankin from EDP Renewables North America
- Heather Shirley Smith from Duke Energy
- John Shultzabarger from EDF Renewables
- Marc Vinson from Georgia Power

Conclusion

The Southeastern Renewable Energy Conference underscored the complexity and potential of the renewable energy sector in the Southeast. The event provided valuable insights and networking opportunities for industry leaders and stakeholders to navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities in this rapidly evolving market.

References

[1] https://infocastinc.com/event/southeast-renewables?kref=rFUjMS5ilhCp&kuid=31749fc1-518a-497f-9ab0-df56eaf7fd8b-1752364800