Groundswell

08/17/2026

We’re bringing the big questions to Decatur this fall! 🎤

Meet our 2026 keynote speakers, who’ll help shape the conversation at this year’s Rural Renaissance Roadshow:

🔵 Sherry Stout (National Laboratory of the Rockies)
🔵 Grayson Flood (Groundwork Collaborative)
🔵 Sarah Hunt (Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy)
🔵 Amelia Powers Gardner (Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy LAMP Program)

Together, we’ll dig into the energy, land, water & power issues at the heart of the Data Center Crossroads. Hope to see you there!

Sign up by August 20th to receive Early Bird Pricing.

📅 Nov 4-6 | Decatur, AL
👉 Register here: ruralrenaissance.com/register

08/05/2026

Keynote Announcement! Grayson Flood

THE FUTURE IS PUBLIC POWER

As electricity demand continues to grow, communities are asking an important question:
Who benefits from the energy infrastructure we’re building?

Join Grayson Flood, Senior Fellow at Groundwork Collaborative, for a conversation exploring how public policy, public power, and local, state, and federal leaders can strengthen affordability, expand grid capacity, and create long-term community benefits.

November 4–6, 2026
Decatur, Alabama

Early Bird Registration is now open. Register today and be part of the conversation.

🔗 RuralRenaissance.com


Infrastructure

08/05/2026

Keynote Announcement! Grayson Flood

THE FUTURE IS PUBLIC POWER

As electricity demand continues to grow, communities are asking an important question:
Who benefits from the energy infrastructure we're building?

Join Grayson Flood, Senior Fellow at Groundwork Collaborative, for a conversation exploring how public policy, public power, and local, state, and federal leaders can strengthen affordability, expand grid capacity, and create long-term community benefits.

November 4–6, 2026
Decatur, Alabama

Early Bird Registration is now open. Register today and be part of the conversation.

🔗 RuralRenaissance.com

08/04/2026

Morning Keynote Announced! Sherry Stout

THE DATA CENTER NEXT DOOR?
Mapping Land, Water, and Energy

AI data center development is expanding rapidly, bringing new questions around energy demand and infrastructure, land availability, and water use.

How can communities prepare while ensuring growth benefits the people who call these places home?

Join Sherry Stout, Laboratory Program Manager for State, Local, and Tribal Activities at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), as she opens the 2026 Rural Renaissance Roadshow with an exploration of the evolving landscape we’re operating in, featuring national-scale maps on data center infrastructure and energy demand, alongside technical insights for local communities developed by NLR.

November 4–6, 2026
Decatur, Alabama

Early Bird Registration is now open. Save your seat today.

🔗 RuralRenaissance.com

Water RuralLeadership

08/04/2026

Morning Keynote Announced! Sherry Stout

THE DATA CENTER NEXT DOOR?
Mapping Land, Water, and Energy

AI data center development is expanding rapidly, bringing new questions around energy demand and infrastructure, land availability, and water use.

How can communities prepare while ensuring growth benefits the people who call these places home?

Join Sherry Stout, Laboratory Program Manager for State, Local, and Tribal Activities at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), as she opens the 2026 Rural Renaissance Roadshow with an exploration of the evolving landscape we’re operating in, featuring national-scale maps on data center infrastructure and energy demand, alongside technical insights for local communities developed by NLR.

November 4–6, 2026
Decatur, Alabama

Early Bird Registration is now open. Save your seat today.

🔗 RuralRenaissance.com

07/30/2026

National Voices. Community-Focused Conversations.

This November, the Rural Renaissance Roadshow brings together timely keynote conversations addressing some of the biggest questions facing rural communities.

The Data Center Next Door? Mapping Land, Water, and Energy
Featuring Sherry Stout

The Future is Public Power
Featuring Grayson Flood

Power, Place, and Prosperity: Data Centers Done Right
Featuring Sarah E. Hunt & Amelia Powers Gardner

From energy demand and public power to local sovereignty, land stewardship, water resources, and economic development, these conversations will connect national expertise with practical strategies communities can use to shape their own future.

Join local elected officials, utilities, policymakers, community organizations, researchers, and industry leaders for Groundswell’s flagship national convening.

November 4–6, 2026
Decatur, Alabama

Early Bird Registration is now open.

🔗 Register today: RuralRenaissance.com

07/16/2026

Program Launched! At the Data Center Crossroads: The 2026 Rural Renaissance Roadshow

Registration is now open for Groundswell’s 2026 Rural Renaissance Roadshow, taking place November 4–6, 2026, in Decatur, Alabama.

As artificial intelligence accelerates demand for new data centers and supporting infrastructure across the United States, rural communities and Sovereign Tribal Nations are increasingly at the center of conversations about energy, water, land use, affordability, local control, and economic opportunity.

This year’s program features four integrated conference tracks:
⚡ Energy
💧 Water
🌿 Land
🤝 Economic Development

Together, these conversations are guided by four shared themes:
• Affordability
• Infrastructure
• Local Control
• Conservation & Stewardship

The Rural Renaissance Roadshow convenes leaders from government, Tribal Nations, utilities, technology companies, agriculture, philanthropy, academia, nonprofits, and community organizations to explore practical, community-centered solutions.

Early Bird Registration is now open through August 9.

Register today at RuralRenaissance.com

07/14/2026

Join Our Team!

Are you passionate about driving positive change? Groundswell is seeking an Energy Efficiency Construction Manager to shape and scale high-quality residential repairs and energy efficiency upgrades through our SOUL program. In this role, you’ll deliver measurable results that empower communities, strengthen partnerships, and directly benefit those we serve.

If you’re ready to join a mission-driven team that values growth, collaboration, and meaningful impact, we want to hear from you!

Learn more about the role: groundswell.org/about #…

To apply, send your resume to [email protected] and help us create a greater impact together.

05/07/2026

Join Michelle Moore, Groundswell, on building principled unity for climate action in this video by Climate Group.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

04/27/2026

A $1 million Google grant will help nonprofit Groundswell cut energy bills and preserve aging homes in LaGrange, funding efficiency and safety upgrades for at least 50 more households.