Tomorrow Talk: The Infrastructure of Tomorrow - Data Centers, AI, and Virginia’s Future
Tue, Dec 1, 6:30pm
Tom Tom Foundation, 100 W. South St
As we prepare for the 15th Annual Tom Tom Festival (April 21–25, 2027), whose theme is NEXTGEN, the Tomorrow Talk series invites us to consider the systems and infrastructure that shape the opportunities available to the commonwealth.
We talk constantly about AI, the cloud, and the digital economy. But the digital world is increasingly physical — consuming land, electricity, water, and capital, while reshaping communities across Virginia. Data centers are, in many ways, the factories of the digital age. And like the factories of previous generations, they can bring jobs, tax revenue, and new infrastructure to communities that might otherwise struggle to attract investment.
For Virginia, the question is not simply whether the data center economy will grow, but how we make sure that growth creates lasting value for the Commonwealth.
In a conversation with Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegate Katrina Callsen we’ll explore what infrastructure the future requires — and what it means to build it in a way that respects the communities asked to host it. Can Virginia remain a leader in the digital infrastructure economy while also protecting affordability, sustainability, and the long-term interests of its communities?
As chair of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee and a member of Senate Finance and Appropriations, Senator Creigh Deeds has been directly involved in Virginia’s emerging debate over data centers, carrying legislation that would tie the industry’s substantial state tax incentives to stronger energy-efficiency and clean-energy standards. He has also helped scrutinize the fiscal implications of that incentive, which he has noted grew from an estimated $1.5 million annual cost when it began in 2008 to roughly $1.9 billion today.
Delegate Katrina Callsen is a member of the Finance Committee in the Virginia House of Delegates, placing her at the intersection of statewide infrastructure policy and its local consequences. She has participated in the General Assembly’s emerging debate over data-center siting and community impacts, including legislation addressing the effects of high-energy-use facilities.
Registration is required.
General Admission: $25
Tomorrow Society Members: $20
Students: $15
FACILITATORS
Senator Creigh Deeds has dedicated more than three decades to public service in Virginia. Raised in Bath County, Creigh earned his undergraduate degree from Concord College and his law degree from Wake Forest University before serving as Bath County Commonwealth’s Attorney. He was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1991 and to the State Senate in 2001, where he continues to serve today.
A longtime member of the Senate, Deeds currently chairs the Commerce and Labor Committee and serves on the Courts of Justice, Finance and Appropriations, Privileges and Elections, and Rules committees. He lives in Charlottesville with his wife, Siobhan, and is the father of four and grandfather of four.
Delegate Katrina Callsen represents Charlottesville and part of Albemarle County in the Virginia House of Delegates. A Charlottesville native and longtime community advocate, she brings experience in education, nonprofit leadership, and public service to her work in the General Assembly. She serves on the House Finance Committee, where she works on issues affecting Virginia’s economy, communities, and public investments. In the legislature, she has become increasingly engaged in questions surrounding the growth of data centers and the infrastructure needed to support Virginia’s rapidly changing digital economy. Her perspective brings a particular focus on how statewide policy decisions affect the communities she represents.
Kate Byrne is the founder of Women Advancing and a seasoned executive, advisor, and leader who has spent four decades building organizations, movements, and communities. Her career has included leadership roles with Fast Company, Businessweek, Inc., SOCAP, and Tides. She currently serves as a senior thought leadership strategy advisor and Entrepreneur in Residence to UVA’s Batten Institute and as a contributing leader with the Karsh Institute of Democracy. Kate serves as a board member of the Tom Tom Foundation, IX Art Park and Co-Chair of Women United.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Tomorrow Talks are a year-long series that picks up critical themes from our April Festival and continues the conversations to create impact in Charlottesville. Each session is facilitated with an emphasis on participation, connection, and new collaborations. Tomorrow Talks begin with a connection exercise or meditation, and proceed into a presentation and breakout activities. They aim to impart knowledge that is practical and relevant to people's lived experience; combining academic or theoretical insights, alongside pragmatic tools, and experiential and somatic learnings.
