about this event
David L Lawrence Convention Center

David L. Lawrence Convention Center

1000 Fort Duquesne Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Pittsburgh skyline from along the river at sunset and dynamic clouds in the sky

AI is rewriting the rules of power demand. Deloitte projects U.S. AI data center electricity needs will surge more than 30× from 2024 to 2035 — climbing from ~4 GW to 123 GW. The Mid-Atlantic/Northeast, nicknamed “Data Center Alley,” will experience much of this explosive growth. Yet the region’s PJM grid is already critically strained, with mounting warnings of imminent rolling blackouts during peak demand.

Long grid interconnection queues and curtailment risk are forcing power procurement teams with urgent time-to-power deadlines to reevaluate grid-reliant vs. off-grid / behind-the-meter solutions. This is creating a generational opportunity now for scalable, behind-the-meter generation — not just to supply AI hyperscalers, but also for other power-hungry sectors like advanced manufacturing, critical infrastructure, and shale operations. 

Fortunately, Data Center Alley’s neighbor is the Marcellus Shale, one of the world’s most prolific natural gas basins, with abundant reserves, extensive in-place infrastructure, pipelines, and a mature energy ecosystem / workforce. The Marcellus is perfectly positioned for a once-in-a-lifetime power infrastructure boom — delivering reliable, cost-effective, on-site baseload energy plus fuel for new utility-scale power plants to unleash the region’s rapidly escalating industrial demand and fuel the next era of American innovation.

On October 21-22, 2026 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh, a first-of-its-kind conference organized by energy veterans will gather power-focused executives from oil and gas, AI data centers, tech, cryptocurrency, renewables, battery storage, micro-grids, nuclear, electric power as a service, mobile power gen, CNG, capital markets, utilities, government, equipment, engineering, and construction. The multi-disciplinary attendees of this event share common interests in building the robust Marcellus power stack of the future. This conference is the right place and the right time to network with the right people to implement the right solutions. Come to learn, share, transact, and forge partnerships with your Marcellus power peers – from power users to power providers and everyone in between!

5th Annual Marcellus Shale Water Business Update

A co-located Marcellus Shale Water Conference the day before (on October 20th) will enhance the participation of regional gas producers and improve the networking value for all attendees and sponsors. To learn more about the Marcellus Shale Water Conference, see here!

Speakers

Dan is Executive Managing Director of JLL Pittsburgh’s Tenant Representation Group where he is responsible for client requirements in Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In this role, he focuses exclusively on Tenant Representation & Advisory Services.

Dan Adamski

Executive Managing Director, Brokerage

JLL

Tom Anderson is Managing Counsel at Crown Castle, where he advises on legal, regulatory, and public policy issues shaping wireless infrastructure deployment across the United States. He leads a team focused on navigating complex state, local, and federal compliance frameworks and supports advocacy initiatives that advance Crown Castle’s shared infrastructure model. Drawing on experience in private practice, on Capitol Hill, and as a constitutional law instructor, Tom brings a practical and strategic perspective to discussions at the intersection of law, policy, and communications infrastructure. He earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and his B.A. in Political Science from Geneva College.

Tom Anderson

Managing Counsel

Crown Castle

Jeremy Bruce

Jeremy Bruce

CEO

Saga Energy

Mark Caskey founded Steel Nation Buildings in 2008. As a resident of Western Pennsylvania, Mark followed the Natural Gas industry that cropped up in the region since the beginning of the Marcellus & Utica Shale boom. Drawing upon his years of experience in the steel and coal industry, Mark saw an opportunity to serve the oil and gas industry with specialty-designed steel buildings that are clean, cool, quiet, and safe. Steel Nation Buildings was then conceived. In November 2024, Caskey created Steel Nation Microgrids, concentrating on Behind The Grid Power Plants utilizing Natural Gas. Steel Nation has completed numerous facilities ranging from 200 to 850 MW. Clients include the Magnificent 8 as well as Hyper Scalers. Steel Nation Microgrids specializes in all Buildings (Control, BESS, BUS, LV, MV, Switchgear) and Soundwalls. In January 2025 Steel Nation created Steel Nation Mechanical, that Designs & Install all HVAC and Massive Cooling systems for these Data Centers.

Mark Caskey

CEO & Founder

Steel Nation

Nick Deiuliis has served as a Director of CNX Resources Corporation since May 2014. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer from May 2014 through his retirement in December 2025. Mr. Deiuliis brings more than 35 years of experience with CNX and in the energy industry. An engineer, attorney, author, and podcast host, Nick is a thought leader in the energy and manufacturing industries. Under Nick’s leadership, CNX launched the CNX Foundation in the spring of 2021, reflecting the company’s unique ESG approach and vision for the communities where it operates. He subsequently spearheaded the Foundation’s flagship program, the CNX Mentorship Academy, providing local high school students from rural and urban underserved communities with a clear path to family-sustaining, well-compensated careers in the region not requiring a four-year degree. Mr. Deiuliis is a registered chemical engineer in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. An engineer, attorney, author, and podcast host, Mr. Deiuliis is a thought leader in the energy and manufacturing industries. As our former Chief Executive Officer with over 30 years of experience with CNX, Mr. Deiuliis has a unique and in-depth understanding of our business, including the challenges and material risks facing the corporation.

Nick Deiuliis

Director

CNX

23 years across U.S. power markets, energy policy and commercial strategy, connecting market shifts with emerging growth opportunities. Emily is 7th generation Texan, resides in D.C.
Recognition: Hart Energy 40 Under 40 (2021); Kayo Top 40 Women in Infrastructure (2026)

Emily Brown Easley

Founder & Managing Partner

Novus Energy Advisors

Christabel Escobar

Christabel Escobar

Direct C&I Origination

Chariot Energy/Pumpjack Power

Kate Fowler

Kate Fowler

Global Head of Nuclear

WTW

Hayley E. Hinken, Esq. serves as Counsel in the Office of Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank at the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. She is also the Chair of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners Staff Subcommittee on Gas. Previously, Ms. Hinken served as an Assistant Counsel in the Commission’s Law Bureau since 2018, advising the Commission on legal matters concerning a variety of utility sectors and representing the Commission in appellate proceedings. Prior to that, she was an Assistant Consumer Advocate at the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate. Ms. Hinken received her J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University and holds a B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Hayley Hinken

Counsel, Office of Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank

Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

Prashant Khorana is a Director in Wood Mackenzie’s Power & Renewables Consulting practice, based in Boston. He brings approximately 15 years of experience across energy, infrastructure and corporate strategy, including more than 15 years focused on power and renewables. He has advised on over US$20 billion of infrastructure transactions across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Prashant works with sovereign wealth funds, infrastructure investors, utilities, developers and hyperscalers on investment strategy, commercial due diligence and power procurement. His experience spans renewable energy, gas generation, battery storage and emerging technologies, with a growing focus on the power requirements of data centers and AI infrastructure. He helps clients assess market risk, evaluate commercial contracts and translate analysis into investment and development decisions. Previously, Prashant led the development of Wood Mackenzie’s Lens valuation platform and held consulting roles in Copenhagen, advising clients across EMEA. He holds an MBA from HEC Paris and an honours degree in Financial Mathematics from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Prashant Khorana

Director, Data Product Owner – Asset Valuations

Wood Mackenzie

Greg Kozera is Director of Marketing for Shale Crescent USA, a regional non-profit research and economic development marketing organization. He is a professional engineer and an environmentalist with more than 40 years of experience in the natural gas and oil industry. Kozera is the author of the books Just the Fracks Ma’am and Learned Leadership. Greg is a leadership expert, professional speaker and a writer with numerous published articles including a weekly newspaper column. Kozera is a boy’s high school soccer coach whose teams have won 16 regional and five state championships. He understands the importance of teamwork and leadership. The mission of Shale Crescent USA is to generate a global awareness of The Shale Crescent USA Region of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and bring back industry to create high wage career-oriented jobs and raise the standard of living for people in the Region.

Greg Kozera

Marketing Director

Shale Crescent USA

Adam Lavallee brings over 15 years of experience in data centers, power, and the electrical industry, with a strong focus on reliability, uptime, and
missioncritical infrastructure. He currently serves as Global Business Development Leader for Data Centers at Emerson’s power and water business,
where he supports growth initiatives and customer engagement across the global market. Adam has spent his career working closely with suppliers and customers across the power ecosystem, holding progressive sales and business development roles and driving strong sales performance. He is passionate about power systems, operational resilience, and helping data center operators achieve dependable, long–term performance.

Adam Lavallee

Global Business Development Leader for Data Centers

Emerson

Nathan Lord is President of Shale Crescent USA, a nonprofit organization working to attract investment and create high-wage jobs in Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. He leads the organization’s research and industry outreach, making the case for locating energy-intensive manufacturing and power generation close to the region’s abundant natural gas, natural gas liquids, water, and major markets.
Since joining Shale Crescent USA in 2016, Nathan has helped market the region’s energy advantage to target industries around the world. He works with power generation, manufacturers, energy producers, project developers, and state economic development partners to advance projects that maximize the value of the region's resources and create high-wage jobs. Nathan graduated from Marietta College and holds an MBA from Liberty University. He lives in Marietta, Ohio, and is active in various community initiatives.

Nathan Lord

President

Shale Crescent USA

Morgan Madden is an associate in the Public Sector, Energy and Natural Resources, Data Center Development, and Employment and Labor groups of Babst Calland. She represents traditional and renewable energy industry and data center clients in land use and other local regulatory matters and has served as both a solicitor and special labor counsel for several Pennsylvania municipalities and municipal authorities. Ms. Madden provides a wide range of services to clients in both the public and private sectors, with an emphasis on land use, zoning, planning, labor and employment advice, and litigation.

Ms. Madden earned dual B.A. degrees in Public Relations and Political Science from the Pennsylvania State University in 2013. She received her J.D. from Widener University Delaware Law School in 2017, where she graduated with honors, served as the Student Bar Association President, and was a member of both the Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society and the Moot Court Honor Society.

Morgan Madden

Associate

Babst Calland

Lance Medlin

Lance Medlin

CEO

Red Post Energy

Karmen has more than twenty years of experience working in the wireless industry focusing on legislative and regulatory action, zoning and permitting issues with states and municipalities. Karmen is the Vice President of Government Affairs with the
Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA). She passed wireless legislation most recently in West Virginia, Colorado and Virginia.
Karmen started her wireless career working with tower companies Crown Castle and American Tower. While at Crown Castle, Karmen served as Vice President of Government Affairs working with state and local governments driving tower, fiber, and small cell deployments nationwide. Karmen learned the fundamentals of the wireless industry during her tenure at American Tower. She served as DAS Director and National Zoning Manager. She and her teams supported building hundreds of towers and small cells nationwide. Karmen started her telecommunications career in fixed wireless at Teligent in Washington, DC. Karmen sits on the Telecommunication Industry Foundation (TIF) as Secretary and a board member. Karmen graduated magna cum laude from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL with a Bachelor of Science in International Relations and Minor in Economics, a Juris Doctor from Tulane School of Law in New Orleans, LA, and is licensed to practice law in Maryland and New Jersey.

Karmen Rajamani

VP Government Affairs

Wireless Infrastructure Association

Robin Rickman provides executive leadership in the development, administration, and implementation of a wide array of corporate business operations and activities ensuring compliance with legal requirements, industry regulations, organizational policies and professional codes and standards. Mr. Rickman has 40-plus years of experience in the nuclear energy business, including working with the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and companies in the civil nuclear power industry.

Mr. Rickman is an engineering business management professional with broad experience as both a senior manager and a business development team leader in the energy and technology sectors. He has worked successfully in both federal and private energy sector enterprises, specializing in the intersection of private energy investments and public-sector policy at state, federal and international levels of governance and regulation.

Before joining Terrestrial Energy in 2015, Mr. Rickman was the Director of New Reactor Projects at Westinghouse, a role that also included management of the company’s small modular reactor program.

Mr. Rickman holds a bachelor of science degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

Robin Rickman

Vice President of Business Development

Terrestrial Energy

Dan Robinson CPCU, PMP

Dan Robinson CPCU, PMP

Director - Nuclear Lifecycle Risk

WTW

Summer Shedd

Summer Shedd

Director, Natural Resources

WTW

John Sutter

John Sutter

Vice President, U.S. Public Affairs

Nebius

Richard Wakefield

Richard Wakefield

Vice President & Chief Engineer

Tyton Power

Otto Walter

Otto Walter

Vice President of Engineering

American Nuclear Insurers

Robert "Bo" Wholey

Robert "Bo" Wholey

CEO

Long Ridge Energy & Power

Ken Zapinski

Ken Zapinski

Director of Research & Public Policy

Pittsburgh Works Together

At age 7, Pete Cook staged his first “conference” by forcing his eight siblings to sit in folding chairs, eat Oreos, and listen to a presentation on why he should get his own bedroom. They voted against him unanimously. He’s been perfecting his event format and presentation skills ever since.

Pete founded the longest-running frac sand conference in the industry over 15 years ago, followed by co-founding with Joseph Triepke the leading produced water executive conferences in the industry, and in 2025 they co-founded The Power Connection — bringing together the oil & gas, infrastructure development, power, tech, and finance worlds at a moment when oil & gas and power generation are focal points for American technology dominance. The inaugural Permian Power Conference drew 600+ attendees and 80+ sponsors (which is a pretty good rebuttal to those siblings!).

Pete pretends to be very busy networking with senior executives, but really most of the time he is printing name badges and working on exhibit hall floorplans.

Pete Cook

Managing Partner

The Power Connection

Joseph Triepke is an accomplished energy professional with over two decades of experience in energy finance, research, publishing, and large-scale events. His career began on Wall Street, where he covered publicly traded oilfield service on both the sell-side and the buy-side for firms including Jefferies, JP Morgan, Guggenheim, and Citadel. Since then, he has successfully founded / co-founded 4 highly respected firms to serve energy capital allocators with independent data, research, and industry conferences. In addition to his Managing Partner role at The Power Connection, Joseph heads up the shale research teams at Lium Research and Infill Thinking and is also a Managing Partner at Oilfield Water Connection. When he’s not working on Lium, Infill Thinking, Oilfield Water Connection and The Power Connection, he devotes his time to his important job – being Dad to his energetic 8-year old daughter!

Joseph Triepke

Managing Partner

The Power Connection

Sponsors
Coffee + Platinum Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Charging Station + Gold Sponsor
Executive Dinner + Gold Sponsor
Coffee + Gold Sponsor
Coffee + Gold Sponsor
Coffee + Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Logo Sponsor
Logo Sponsor
Logo Sponsor
Logo Sponsor
Logo Sponsor
Logo Sponsor
Logo Sponsor
Logo Sponsor
Supporting Org
Supporting Org
Supporting Org
Supporting Org
Media Partner
Media Partner
Media Partner
Media Partner
Agenda
8:00 AM
1h

Light Breakfast & Coffee

Exhibit Area
Coffee SponsorINNIO
9:15 AM
15 min

Welcome Remarks

Session Hall (320-321)

• Pete Cook, Managing Partner, The Power Connection

• Joseph Triepke, Managing Partner, The Power Connection

9:30 AM
30 min

America’s Strategic Energy Asset a World-Class Power & Industrial Solution

Session Hall (320-321)

• Nathan Lord, President, Shale Crescent USA

• Greg Kozera, Marketing Director, Shale Crescent USA

10:00 AM
45 min

The Power Brokers: Appalachia, Grid, Gas & Compute

Session Hall (320-321)

• Nick Deiuliis, Director, CNX (Chair)

• Dan Adamski, Executive Managing Director, Brokerage, JLL

• Ken Zapinski, Director of Research & Public Policy, Pittsburgh Works Together

• Emily Brown Easley, Founder & Managing Partner, Novus Energy Advisors

10:45 AM
30 min

Morning Break in Exhibit Area

Exhibit Area
11:15 AM
45 min

Grid at an Inflection Point: AI Demand, PJM Capacity & Reliability Risk

Session Hall (320-321)

• Summer Shedd, Director, Natural Resources, WTW (Chair)

• Robert "Bo" Wholey, CEO, Long Ridge Energy & Power

• Lance Medlin, CEO, Red Post Energy

• Hayley Hinken, Counsel, Office of Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank, Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

12:00 PM
1h 15m

Lunch Break with Time to Visit Exhibits

Dining Area (Foyer)
1:15 PM
45 min

Behind-the-Meter Trends as Data Centers Race for Power

Session Hall (320-321)

• Prashant Khorana, Director, Data Product Owner – Asset Valuations, Wood Mackenzie (Chair)

• Adam Lavallee, Global Business Development Leader for Data Centers, Emerson

• Jeremy Bruce, CEO, Saga Energy

• Mark Caskey, CEO & Founder, Steel Nation

2:00 PM
30 min

Telecom Opportunity: Modular Power and Edge Computing at Scale

Session Hall (320-321)

• Karmen Rajamani, VP Government Affairs, Wireless Infrastructure Association (Chair)

• Tom Anderson, Managing Counsel, Crown Castle

• Richard Wakefield, Vice President & Chief Engineer, Tyton Power

2:30 PM
30 min

Afternoon Comfort Break

Exhibit Area
3:00 PM
45 min

Siting Gigawatts in Appalachia: Land, Permitting, Community & Interconnection

Session Hall (320-321)

• Morgan Madden, Associate, Babst Calland

• John Sutter, Vice President, U.S. Public Affairs, Nebius

3:45 PM
30 min

Inside the Restart: Baseload Nuclear for the AI Era

Session Hall (320-321)

• Dan Robinson CPCU, PMP, Director - Nuclear Lifecycle Risk, WTW (Chair)

• Kate Fowler, Global Head of Nuclear, WTW

• Robin Rickman, Vice President of Business Development, Terrestrial Energy

• Otto Walter, Vice President of Engineering, American Nuclear Insurers

4:15 PM
1h 15m

Drinks Reception Among the Exhibits

Exhibit Area
5:30 PM

Reception Concludes & Day 1 Adjourns

Evening free for client dinners and networking

Don't Miss This Event!

Sponsorships

TITLE SPONSOR - $35,000

The single Title Sponsorship offers premier recognition as the event’s leading sponsor across the website and all marketing materials. It includes 8 company registrations and up to a 40’x40′ exhibit hall space equipped with 2 tables, 4 chairs, and electric service, plus the option to add a 20’x60′ area for large equipment at no extra cost. Sponsors receive an ad and an in the event app, along with 10 complimentary customer registrations and a 50% discount on additional company registrations. This package also provides access to the attendee list 2 weeks before the event, an invitation to participate in a main stage panel, and the opportunity to host a breakout-stage panel on a topic of your choosing. You may select any available Premium Sponsor Enhancement at no cost*, with the option to add Food & Beverage Sponsor Enhancements for an additional fee.


 
*Sponsor must confirm their enhancement selection with the Power Connection team by September 20, 2026; failure to do so voids the free enhancement offer.

PLATINUM

$25,000
6 Company Registrations
Logo on Event Website, Signage & Emails
10'x20' Exhibit Space
FREE Premium Sponsor Enhancement*
Attendee List 2 Weeks Before Event Starts
5 FREE Customer Registrations
50% Off Additional Company Registrations
Option to host panel discussion
Optional Food & Beverage Sponsor Enhancement

GOLD

$10,000
4 Company Registrations
Logo on Event Website, Signage & Emails
10'x10' Exhibit Space
FREE Premium Sponsor Enhancement*
Attendee List 2 Weeks Before Event Starts
5 FREE Customer Registrations
50% Off Additional Company Registrations
Option to Upgrade Booth Space
Optional Food & Beverage Sponsor Enhancement

SILVER

$5,000
2 Company Registrations
Logo on Event Website, Signage & Emails
Tabletop Exhibit Space
Attendee List 2 Weeks Before Event Starts
Optional Food & Beverage Sponsor Enhancement
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LOGO SPONSOR - $3,500

Don’t Need Exhibit Space But Want To Sponsor? Grab a Logo Sponsorship which offers 2 included company registrations, your logo on the event website, recognition as an event sponsor in select marketing, social media, and signage, and access to the Attendee List 2 weeks early!

Registration

The Power Connection’s participation policy applies to all registrants.