Event Summary
**This event will be held in person only.
Data centers are the essential engines powering the AI revolution and driving massive societal advancements, but they also present undeniable challenges to our local energy grids, water supplies, and communities. The Austin Forum’s presentation on July 7 covered the technologies, costs, resource demands, and impacts of data centers–and the number of questions for the panel was far more than could be addressed. The event also generated lots more discussion on LinkedIn by participants and by professionals from Austin and beyond. The topic clearly deserves much more discussion, so please join us on August 19 for a followup event to share more, ask more, learn more, and ideate more.
Most importantly, this event will shift the spotlight from the panel to the public. We are hosting an extended, moderated town hall designed for community members, tech leaders, policymakers, and environmental advocates to come together to share and learn more. Whether you want to voice a personal or societal concern, share a real-world AI success story, ask a pressing question, or propose a concrete solution, this is your platform. We will confront the tough realities while celebrating the positive impacts AI is already delivering—all in a structured, productive format.
What We Want to Hear From You
Success Stories & Positive Impacts: Share how AI tools—enabled by data centers—are already improving your business, healthcare, education, or daily life.
Real Concerns: Voice your personal, local, or global anxieties regarding grid reliability, water usage, land development, or societal shifts.
Burning Questions: Get direct answers from peers and experts on the numbers, timelines, and technologies shaping our infrastructure.
Constructive Suggestions: Offer ideas on how Austin and the broader tech ecosystem can better balance the demand for computing power with responsible stewardship of our resources.
Join us to explore how AI data centers shape our future—from careers and corporate policy to voting and sustainability. Bring your insights, concerns, and ideas to this essential conversation. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of the current landscape, actionable resources, and new strategies to share within your community and organization.
Continued Conversation & Networking
The discussion doesn’t end when the panel wraps up. Join us immediately following the presentation for post-event networking and continued conversation at Remedy, located at 3rd & Nueces, for ongoing discussion and networking. Connect with fellow attendees, swap insights from the event, and enjoy a complimentary drink on us, thanks to our amazing Austin Forum Annual Partners, Champions, and Friends.
Co-hosted by
Austin AI Alliance
Moderator
Amy Polvado, Founder and CEO, Facilimax
Amy Polvado is the Founder and CEO of Facilimax, an Austin-based company building AI-powered digital twin software on NVIDIA Omniverse for universities, hospitals, and data centers. She also leads Harmon Labs, a vocational school preparing workers for careers in power plant operations, data center technology, and nuclear energy, and serves as CEO of Red River Infrastructure, developing large-scale data center sites across Texas.
Amy is a doctoral student at Purdue Polytechnic Institute, where her research focuses on deploying digital twins to edge wearable devices for frontline workforce training. She is also Chairwoman of the US Proptech Council, host of the Data Center News Show, and author of From Data to Deals. Her career spans semiconductor manufacturing at Applied Materials and IBM, building a real estate private equity firm to over $1 billion in assets under management, and technology commercialization at UT Austin.
Attendance Instructions
In-person
ACC Rio Grande: Building 3000
The Center for Government & Civic Service
1218 West Avenue Austin, TX, 78701
Parking map here! Street parking is free after 6 pm.