en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Gulf South Business Roundtable (GSBR) held its second annual policy conference in Washington, D.C., convening national energy executives, business leaders, and policymakers to discuss the policies and investments needed to strengthen U.S. energy security, expand domestic manufacturing, and support economic growth, including the rapid development of artificial intelligence.
With rising electricity demand, accelerating industrial investment, and AI reshaping the economy, the conference focused on expanding energy infrastructure while protecting customers, modernizing the grid, streamlining permitting processes, strengthening domestic manufacturing, and cultivating the skilled workforce needed to support the next phase of U.S. innovation and economic leadership.
Ben Portis, Executive Director of the Gulf South Business Roundtable, stated that the Gulf South has long been the backbone of the U.S. energy economy and is now helping to drive the nation's future development. He noted that U.S. economic competitiveness depends on reliable and affordable energy, modern resources, and a strong workforce, and that this conference brought together business and government leaders to explore the policies and partnerships needed to address current challenges.
The conference highlighted the Gulf South's growing importance as a national economic engine. According to a recent GSBR white paper, since January 2024, the region has attracted between $627 billion and $721 billion in announced industrial investments, accounts for nearly one-third of planned U.S. data center capacity, and offers industrial electricity prices averaging about 29% lower than the national average. These advantages continue to attract investment in AI infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and energy production.
During the conference, executives from leading national utilities, manufacturers, and infrastructure companies, along with federal policymakers, discussed how the U.S. can meet growing energy demand, encourage private investment, and strengthen the national industrial base as AI and other emerging technologies reshape the economy.
Utility leaders from Entergy and Southern Company discussed how electric utilities are preparing for rapid growth in electricity demand driven by AI, advanced manufacturing, and economic expansion, while protecting customers, maintaining grid reliability, and enhancing resilience during extreme weather. Corporate executives and policymakers examined the roles of permitting reform, pipeline capacity, power transmission, and strategic infrastructure investments essential for supporting AI growth, manufacturing expansion, and long-term economic competitiveness. Industry leaders explored the recovery of domestic manufacturing, supply chain resilience, workforce development, and the policies needed to produce technologies and infrastructure supporting AI, advanced energy systems, and future industrial growth. Leaders from government, utilities, and manufacturing emphasized how investments in affordable energy, advanced manufacturing, and defense industries in Mississippi are creating new opportunities for businesses, workers, and communities across the Gulf South.
Key participants included executives from Entergy, Southern Company, Boardwalk Pipelines, Mitsubishi Power Americas, Mississippi Power, Entergy Texas, and Ingalls Shipbuilding, as well as members of Congress and other regional leaders helping to shape the nation's energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure agenda.
This conference reinforced the Gulf South Business Roundtable's commitment to advancing policies that promote affordable and reliable energy, modern infrastructure, strengthened domestic manufacturing, and positioning the Gulf South as a leading destination for industries driving America's future, including digital infrastructure.
The Gulf South Business Roundtable is an executive-led organization that brings together energy producers, manufacturers, large industrial energy consumers, and community leaders to advance policies that strengthen the economic competitiveness of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. GSBR is dedicated to promoting affordable and reliable energy, modern infrastructure, workforce development, and long-term economic growth across the Gulf South.
