Energy, Elements, Agreements and Learning Curves
Inside the Legal and Regulatory Infrastructure of Data Centers
Hosted by IEL’s Energy Transactions Practice Committee
July 10, 2026
Webinar begins at 12:00 pm Central
Duration: 1 hour
IEL: +1.972.244.3422
E-Mail: iel@cailaw.org
Overview
Data centers are no longer just a technology story. They are an energy story, a water story, a transaction story, and a regulatory story. The infrastructure demands of AI and hyperscale computing are reshaping power markets, straining water supplies, and generating a new wave of complex contracts, regulatory proceedings, and M&A activity. All of this is also creating steep learning curves for lawyers. This panel, hosted by the Institute for Energy Law’s Transactions Committee, brings together in-house counsel from the power supply and infrastructure sides of the industry, a water rights specialist, and, more generally, lawyers at various stages of scaling the AI and Data center learning curves. Together they will examine how data centers are sourcing and contracting for power including nuclear, managing water risk, navigating co-location and behind-the-meter regulatory questions, and structuring the deals underpinning this buildout. They will also help explain how they are mastering the relevant enforcement and technological developments in this incredibly dynamic industry. Attendees will come away with a practical, multi-perspective view of the legal, regulatory, and commercial challenges defining the data center sector in 2026.
Webinar begins at 12:00 pm Central
Duration: 1 hour
Speakers
Jenny Gerson
Senior Director of Sustainability
DataBank
Boulder, CO
Jenny Gerson is the Senior Director of Sustainability at DataBank, a colocation data center developer and operator in 25+ markets across the US and UK. At DataBank, she develops and leads the company's strategy across environment, social, and governance topics, including a scope 1 and 2 net zero emissions goal by 2030.
Prior to joining DataBank, she was the Director of Sustainability for Maxar Technologies, a global space infrastructure and earth intelligence company. Previously, Jenny led energy and environmental management, corporate sustainability, and M&A integrations at Zayo Group, a global telecom company.
Jenny has 20+ years of experience in sustainability and 10+ years of experience in the data center industry. Beyond corporate sustainability, Jenny's background includes cleantech market research, environmental permitting for energy development, and ecological studies for research institutions. Jenny holds a BA in Evolutionary and Ecological Biology and an MBA from the University of Colorado.
Seth Lucia
Assistant General Counsel
Constellation
Washington, D.C.
Seth Lucia is Assistant General Counsel at Constellation. He counsels on a wide range of energy regulation, market and policy matters. His experience includes advising on wholesale power and transmission matters, counseling on interconnection issues, negotiating various energy agreements, obtaining regulatory authorizations for major energy transactions, and participating in litigation and settlement proceedings at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
Jeff Simonetti
CEO & Founder
The Aqua Exchange
Los Angeles, CA
Jeff Simonetti is the CEO & Founder of the Aqua Exchange, a firm that specializes in water transaction consulting and execution. His firm assists clients in buying and selling water including master planned communities, large agricultural operators, and groundwater sustainability agencies. Simonetti has more than two decades of experience developing public policy and governments affairs strategies, particularly in the land-use, environmental, and water policy areas. Prior to founding the Aqua Exchange, Simonetti was the Director of Government Affairs for the Building Industry Association Baldy View Chapter, a residential real estate trade association in Southern California, where he provided advocacy and consulting on a variety of issues including water, greenhouse gas emissions regulations, and state and local regulatory fees associated with homebuilding. He is currently a senior vice president at the Capitol Core Group, an advocacy firm that provides clients advocacy services at the federal, state and local levels. Capitol Core’s areas of expertise include water, infrastructure, renewable energy, and land use. Simonetti earned a bachelor’s degree in government and economics from Claremont McKenna College and a master’s degree in finance and entrepreneurship from Boston University.
Elissa Spencer
Associate General Counsel, Transactions & Market Compliance
Ford Energy
Detroit, MI
Registration Options
- $50 - Non-Member
- $0 - IEL Member
- $0 - IEL Supporting or Sustaining Member Employee
- $0 - Law Student
MCLE Credit
Texas Course Number 174326653. This course has been approved for Minimum Continuing Legal Education credit by the State Bar of Texas Committee on MCLE in the amount of 1.0 credit hours, of which no credit hours will apply to ethics/professional responsibility credit.
This online program has not been approved for MCLE credit in any other jurisdictions. If requested by attendees, CAIL will request accreditation in California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Accreditation has not been sought or approved in these jurisdictions at this time. MCLE credit will not be requested in any other jurisdiction.
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