Organizers energized for next Permian Power conference

The second Permian Power Connection conference is set to take place on June 8-9 at Horseshoe Arena in Midland, Texas, with organizers noting an acceleration in industry interest. Joseph Triepke, managing partner of The Power Connection, indicated that the 2026 timeframe is crucial for artificial intelligence data centers considering the Permian Basin for new developments. Triepke highlighted that in the past six months, seven gigawatt-scale AI hyperscaler data center campuses have been announced across West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. This growth leverages the region's abundant land, workforce, and energy resources, particularly stranded natural gas and renewables. The conference, themed "Time to Power," will focus on the practical aspects of planning, permitting, constructing, and connecting these new facilities to the Permian Basin's power infrastructure. Discussions are also expected to cover the impact of artificial intelligence and bitcoin mining, alongside the broader electrification of oilfield equipment due to rising diesel prices. The event anticipates over 800 participants, more than 90 sponsors, and 80 speakers from the power sector.