About this Event
As AI and digital infrastructure drive a massive surge in data center development across the United States, the Mountain West has become a critical frontier. Join WRISE Colorado in Denver for an in-depth lunch-and-learn on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to explore the complex intersection of energy demand, policy, and infrastructure.
We are thrilled to feature an expert panel from Rowan Digital Infrastructure, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, and Kaplan Kirsch LLP. Our speakers will dive into the "hot topics" shaping the industry today, including regulatory hurdles, innovative siting strategies, and the evolving utility perspectives required to power these high-impact loads responsibly.
Event Details
- Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026
- Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- Location: Wright Room: 535 16th Street Mall, Suite 240 in Denver, CO. Go to the main entrance of the Masonic Building (535 16th St Mall) and use elevators or stairs to the second floor. (Alternatively, you can enter the Appaloosa Grill and use the stairs in the restaurant.) From there, enter into an atrium area and the Wright Room event space (Suite 240) is clearly labeled.
- Lunch: Generously sponsored and provided by Kaplan Kirsch LLP.
- Cost: Free to register, but space is strictly limited!
- Parking: Discounted parking is available at Denver Pavilions Parking Garage if needed. Email [email protected] for more information.
Featured Panelists
- Julie Bixby with Rowan Digital Infrastructure: Julie leads Pipeline Strategy at Rowan Digital Infrastructure. Julie joined Rowan in 2023, after 8 years at Meta, and focuses on developing data center sites that will help the industry to grow and transform digital infrastructure. Rowan works with the top hyperscale data center companies, leading the industry in hyperscale data center site selection, development and delivery with a keen focus on sustainability. Julie's background is in environmental planning and infrastructure development and her career has taken her through government, academia, consulting, and into private industry. Here in Colorado, she loves to spend time in the mountains - hiking, backpacking and snowshoeing - with her partner and two energetic huskies.
- Lisa Tiffin with Tri-State Energy: Lisa Tiffin is the Chief Commercial Officer for Tri-State Generation and Transmission, a cooperative association of forty-two members located in four states. With over thirty years of experience in the energy industry, nineteen of those years at Tri-State, Ms. Tiffin currently oversees regulated resource planning and acquisitions as well as marketing and trading operations for Tri-State. In Ms. Tiffin’s prior role, she successfully led Tri-State through its first regulated resource planning process while developing innovative measures to ensure robust system reliability given a transitioning grid. Ms. Tiffin is active in organized market greenhouse gas initiatives aimed at improving tracking and reporting of ghg emissions in the west. As a 2023 RMEL Industry Leadership award recipient, Ms. Tiffin is dedicated to actively pursuing industry initiatives that allow the Tri-State membership to continue to benefit from reliable, affordable and responsible power.
- Sarah Keane with : As the chair of the Energy and Environmental Law practice area at the law firm Kaplan Kirsch, Sarah Keane dedicates her practice to energy and climate change, in transactional, regulatory and litigation contexts. Sarah advises a wide range of project developers, investors, and sponsors regarding all aspects of project development and regulatory approvals, with a particular focus on renewable energy, electric transmission, data centers, energy storage, electric vehicles and clean mobility, and microgrids. She frequently helps advance legislative and regulatory policy in Colorado and California on behalf of project developers, local governments, and non-profit organizations
What We’ll Discuss
- Regulatory & Policy Issues: Navigating the shifting legal landscape and new legislative incentives for data centers.
- Siting & Development: Understanding the unique land use and environmental requirements for large-scale digital campuses.
- Utility Perspectives: How wholesalers like Tri-State are adapting with new tariffs and renewable energy strategies to meet massive load demands.
Space is Limited! WRISE events are known to sell out fast. Sign up right away to secure your spot and join the conversation on the future of energy in the Mountain West!
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Wright Room, 535 16th Street Mall, Denver, United States
USD 0.00
