Connecting Policy, Projects, & Progress: Highlights from the 2026 Infrastructure Summit

Posted on 04/23/2026 by Austin Chamber of Commerce

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This year's Summit brought together leaders from across business, government, and industry to explore how Central Texas can keep pace with one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.

Throughout the program, speakers highlighted the critical role infrastructure plays in supporting economic growth, strengthening supply chains, and expanding access to opportunity. From energy and mobility to water and workforce development, the conversations made clear that long-term regional success depends on thoughtful investment and cross-sector collaboration.

Attendees also explored how emerging technologies are beginning to reshape infrastructure and everyday experiences—with even a few robots on site delivering coffee and snacks, offering a tangible glimpse into how innovation is showing up in real time.

A consistent theme throughout the day was that growth is not a future challenge—it is happening now. Meeting that growth will require coordination, innovation, and strong partnerships across the public and private sectors.

State of the Grid: What Texas Needs to Power the Next Decade

The program opened with a data-driven keynote from Pablo Vegas, President & Chief Executive Officer of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Vegas outlined the scale and urgency of growth across Texas. With more than 27 million customers in the ERCOT region and projected summer capacity exceeding 100,000 MW, the message was clear: demand is accelerating rapidly and infrastructure must evolve just as quickly to keep up.

His remarks highlighted a critical shift in the state’s energy landscape. While renewable energy and storage now make up a significant share of new capacity, Texas is also seeing unprecedented demand from large-load users, particularly data centers, which account for the vast majority of new interconnection requests. At the same time, much of the existing thermal fleet is aging, underscoring the need for a balanced, reliable, and forward-looking energy strategy.

Featured Panels
  • More Than a Train: Austin Light Rail Driving Economic Development

    Moderator -Awais Azhar
    Housing Works

    Lisa Storer
    Austin Transit Partnership

    Michael Smith
    Charlotte Center City

    José "Chito" Vela
    City of Austin

    Alexis Willis
    Hunt Real Estate

  • Keep Central Texas Moving: Building Through Disruption

    Moderator - Hannah Rucker
    KVUE

    Dottie Watkins
    CapMetro

    AM Michael Rogers
    City of Austin

    James Bass
    CTRMA

    CM Rudy Metayer
    CAMPO

  • Natural Gas & Sustainability: Powering Texas’ Growing Energy Mix

    Moderator - Allen Fore
    Kinder Morgan

    Nicole Simmons
    Texas Gas

    Tom Oney
    LCRA

    Jason Isaac
    American Energy Institute

  • Operating the Airport of the Future: Workforce, Business, and Growth at AUS

    Moderator -Manny Gonzalez
    Austin Community College Trustee

    Kyle Carvell
    Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

    John Gallo
    Austin-Bergstrom International Airport

    Daniel Jones
    Southwest Airlines

    Amber Warne
    Workforce Solutions

  • Connected Corridor: Powering the Austin-San Antonio Mega-Region

    Moderator - AJ Rodriguez
    Texas 2036

    Henry Cisneros
    Former HUD

    Holly Malish
    Lockhart Economic Development

    Ananth Prasad
    SH 130

  • What Comes After 2026? Energy Infrastructure & Local Investments

    Moderator - Trey Salinas
    3 Point Partners

    Zach Hutto
    HC Associates

    Taylor Kilroy
    Texas Public Power Association

    Lisa Martin
    Austin Energy

  • Water Security in Central Texas: Supply, Flooding, and Growth

    Moderator - Sarah Schlessinger
    Texas Water Foundation

    Michael Irlbeck
    EPCOR

    Jeremy Mazur
    Texas 2036

    Judge Steven Snell
    Williamson County

  • Building the Talent Engine: Scaling the Infrastructure Workforce Pipeline

    Moderator - Kevin Brackmeyer
    Skillpoint Alliance

    Garrett Groves
    Austin Community College

    Yael Lawson
    Workforce Solutions

    Ann Eaton
    City of Austin

Reception, Sponsored by HNTB

We closed out the day on a high note with a reception sponsored by HNTB—a great opportunity to keep the conversations going and connect with fellow attendees

Thank you to our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor
Reception Sponsor
Lanyard Sponsor
Program Sponsors
Beverage Sponsor

Opening Session Sponsor

Live Delivery Sponsor

Corporate Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
AECOMHalff
Austin CommercialHutt-Zollars
Austin Community CollegeParsons Corporation
Cobb, Fendley, & AssociatesThe Rios Group
GarverWSB

2026 Partners

Pivotal Partners
Foundation Partners
Corporate Partners

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