POWERGEN is February 11-13 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. Register for the POWERGEN technical conference program here.
POWERGEN International 2025 is proud to feature a lineup of high-profile keynote speakers who are influential in shaping the direction of the power generation industry.
These speakers capture the major themes of the sector and set the tone for a conference aimed at sharing educational insights, facilitating connections and spawning big ideas.
The event kicks off with the Opening Keynote on February 11, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Marc Spieler, Senior Managing Director of Energy for NVIDIA, will first take the stage. Spieler actively engages with major energy companies and related research labs to solve the industry’s most pressing challenges through AI-enabled solutions. He has even been called NVIDIA’s “main envoy” to the energy industry. From enabling AI solutions that enhance power generation efficiency, to high-performance chips that drive the operation of large-scale data centers, NVIDIA is at the heart of modern innovation.
Next to speak will be Compass Datacenters CEO Chris Crosby. Along with manufacturing and widespread electrification, data centers are driving much of the growth seen in power generation. Compass, a Dallas-based hyperscale data center developer, says it does “data centers differently” through several innovative approaches. Compass, with 20 active U.S. data center campuses and four more in development, believes in a “co-serve” model, which means being a more active partner in planning, risk and capital costs. With 40% year-over-year growth, Compass has been fixture on Inc. Magazine’s fastest-growing companies list.
Eliecer Viamontes, CEO of Entergy Texas, will next address the POWERGEN audience. Entergy Texas serves over a half million people and plans to beef up its generating fleet over the next few years in Southeast Texas. This includes adding utility-scale solar and natural gas-fired generation projects. The company’s Orange County Advanced Power Station combined-cycle plant is expected online next year. Before assuming his current role in November 2021, Viamontes served as vice president, utility distribution operations for Entergy Corporation, where he was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the electric distribution infrastructure for all of Entergy’s state jurisdictions. Prior to joining Entergy in 2020, Viamontes served in various leadership roles at Florida Power & Light (FPL).
Finally, a POWERGEN regular in Siemens Energy North American President Rich Voorberg will take the stage. Voorberg has over 30 years of experience with Siemens Energy, including extensive involvement in the manufacturing, commissioning management, project management and marketing aspects of the power generation business. Richard was responsible for the design, project management and building of a brand-new factory at the Charlotte, North Carolina, site for gas turbine manufacturing. Previously, he served as the Head of Service in North America, where he was responsible for managing all aspects of Large Power Service, including gas turbines, steam turbines, generators and nuclear.
AI’s Power Play: Meeting the Growing Energy Demands of Data Centers
A second keynote kicks off in the afternoon and features a panel representing utilities, digital infrastructure and others who will discuss how the power and utilities industry can tackle the load growth challenge and meet the electricity needs of data centers.
Join industry leaders as they tackle critical questions like:
- How are investor-owned utilities gearing up to meet this unprecedented demand?
- What are the best market engagement strategies for independent power producers?
- Which onsite power or behind-the-meter plays make the most sense?
- What are some of the emerging technologies most likely to solve the supply and demand puzzle?
AI’s Power Play: Meeting the Growing Energy Demands of Data Centers
Feb 11, 2025 | 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM
Speakers
Michelle De Blasi, Environmental, Natural Resources and Energy Attorney – Law Office of Michelle De Blasi
Lon Huber, Senior Vice President, Pricing and Customer Solutions – Duke Energy
Marc Spieler, Senior Managing Director, Energy – NVIDIA
Mary Faulk, Director, Integrated System Planning & Support – Salt River Project
Panel Moderator
Blair Loftis, National Director Power Generation & Transmission – Terracon, Inc.
The Role of Gas Turbines in the Clean Energy Transition
Renewable energy additions are reshaping the electric grid, but gas turbines will remain a power generation workhorse and complement load swings in a reliable manner. However, gas turbines need to evolve as we work toward decarbonization goals. Join prominent gas turbine manufacturers on Wednesday, February 12 starting at 8:15 a.m. as they discuss cutting-edge R&D, low-carbon fuel blending demonstrations and policy considerations for new and existing gas turbine-equipped power plants.
The Role of Gas Turbines in the Clean Energy Transition
Feb 12, 2025 | 8:15 AM – 9:45 AM
Speakers
Aad den Elzen, Vice President of Power Generation and Strategic Growth – Solar Turbines
Benjamin Thomas, Director, Hydrogen Production – Mitsubishi Power Americas
Jason Jermark, Vice President of Global Services Operations – Siemens Energy
Fabien Codron, Director, Carbon Solutions – GE Vernova
Jeffrey Benoit, Vice President of Clean Energy Solutions – PSM – a Hanwha Company
Panel Moderator
Bobby Noble, Senior Program Manager, Gas Turbine R&D – EPRI
