In this episode of CIO Perspectives, host Sid Ahl is joined by Eliza Erikson, Head of Impact Investing and Advice, for a wide-ranging discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence, energy demand and long-term investment opportunities.
Sid and Eliza explore how the rapid acceleration of AI is reshaping global energy markets and creating an urgent need for new power generation, storage and infrastructure. They discuss why energy innovation is increasingly being driven by economics rather than ideology, how investors should think about the evolving energy landscape and where opportunities are emerging across public and private markets.
The conversation also examines the role of regulation, affordability and energy security, as well as the challenges of balancing AI-driven growth with the needs of communities, consumers and the broader economy. Sid and Eliza consider what this new era of technological and energy transformation could mean for investors, and why a disciplined, long-term perspective may be critical to navigating both the risks and opportunities ahead.
Highlights:
- The energy opportunity: Why rising electricity demand is creating one of the most significant investment opportunities in decades.
- AI's growing power needs: How data centers and AI infrastructure are reshaping energy markets and accelerating investment across the power ecosystem.
- Cost over carbon: Why economics, affordability and reliability are increasingly driving energy adoption decisions.
- The future of energy innovation: How solar, storage, geothermal, nuclear and other technologies are competing to meet growing demand.
- Energy security and resilience: What recent geopolitical events reveal about the importance of building a more flexible and diversified energy system.
- Investing across the supply chain: Where opportunities are emerging from early-stage innovation through infrastructure and energy deployment.
PREVIOUS EPISODE
CIO Perspectives Podcast:
Iran Headlines vs. Strong Earnings, AI Acceleration and Cheap Quality Stocks Listen now
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of Brown Advisory. These views are not intended to be and should not be relied upon as investment advice, nor are they intended to be a forecast of future events or a guarantee of future results. The information provided in this podcast is not intended to be, and should not be considered, a recommendation or suggestion to engage in, or refrain from, a particular course of action or to make or hold a particular investment or pursue a particular investment strategy, including whether or not to buy, sell, or hold any securities mentioned. It should not be assumed that investments in such securities have been or will be profitable. To the extent specific securities are mentioned, they have been selected by the author on an objective basis to illustrate views expressed in the commentary and do not represent all the securities purchased, sold, or recommended for advisory clients. The information contained herein has been prepared from sources believed reliable but is not guaranteed by us as to its timeliness or accuracy and is not a complete summary or statement of all available data. This piece is intended solely for our clients and prospective clients, is for informational purposes only, and is not individually tailored for or directed to any particular client or prospective client.
Impact investments are made with the primary objective to generate positive social and environmental impact. While financial returns are also an objective of impact investments, impact investments will vary in levels of financial risk and the targeted level of financial return based on the impact the investment is seeking to achieve. Impact investment considerations will vary by investment style, sector/industry, market trends and client objectives. Some impact investments may create a positive impact at time of investment, where others will seek to create a positive impact at some point in the future. Clients may seek to leverage impact investments as part of a broader effort to invest according to their values. Investments selected for purposes of generating positive, social and environmental impact may perform differently than as forecasted due to the factors incorporated in the analysis of the investments. There is no guarantee of positive impact nor financial return. Efforts to measure impact will vary by the investment’s objective, sector/industry, availability of data and client directed tools of measurement. There is no assurance that data will be accurate, complete or easily comparable to other investments.
All investments involve risk. The value of the investment and the income from it will vary. There is no guarantee that the initial investment will be returned.
CERTAIN RISK FACTORS
Prospective investors should be aware that investments in private equity involve a high degree of risk and, therefore, should be undertaken only by investors capable of evaluating such risks of and bearing the risks it represents. There can be no assurance that any investment objectives will be achieved or that investors will receive a return of their capital. Accordingly, investors should only invest in private equity investments if such investors are able to withstand a total loss of their investment. Prospective investors should carefully review the matters discussed in the section regarding risk factors contained in the Offering Memorandum relating to any investment opportunity.
Alternative Investments may be available for Qualified Purchasers and Accredited Investors only.
Bloomberg® refers to Bloomberg L.P., a global provider of financial data, analytics, and news. The Bloomberg® name and related trademarks are owned by Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates.
Baseload power refers to a consistent and reliable source of electricity generation that operates continuously to meet minimum levels of demand.
CapEx (Capital expenditures) refers to funds a company uses to acquire, upgrade, or maintain physical assets such as property, buildings, or equipment. These investments are intended to support long-term growth and are typically recorded on the balance sheet rather than expensed immediately.
Data centers are facilities that house computing infrastructure used to store, process and distribute digital information.
Earnings growth measures the rate at which a company’s net income increases over a specified period, often expressed as a percentage. It is a key indicator of a company’s profitability trend and financial health.
Free cash flow is the cash a company generates from its operations after accounting for capital expenditures. It represents the cash available to return to shareholders, pay down debt, or reinvest in the business.
Geothermal energy is energy generated from heat stored beneath the Earth's surface.
Gigawatt (GW) is a unit of power equal to one billion watts and commonly used to measure large-scale electricity generation capacity.
Grid infrastructure refers to the transmission and distribution systems that deliver electricity from power generators to consumers.
Hyperscalers are large technology companies that operate massive cloud computing and data center networks.
Market capitalization is the total market value of a company’s outstanding shares of stock, calculated by multiplying the current share price by the total number of shares outstanding. It is commonly used to classify companies as small-cap, mid-cap, or large-cap.
Nasdaq® refers to the Nasdaq Stock Market®, a global electronic marketplace for buying and selling securities. Nasdaq, Inc. is the owner of the Nasdaq® trademark and related marks. The S&P 500® Index is a market-capitalization-weighted index of 500 leading publicly traded companies in the U.S. and is widely regarded as a benchmark for the overall equity market.
The S&P 500® is a product of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and/or its affiliates and has been licensed for use.
Sectors are classifications of companies based on their primary business activities under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS®). GICS® was developed by MSCI Inc. and S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC to provide a consistent framework for categorizing companies into 11 sectors. The GICS® structure and related classifications are the exclusive property of MSCI and S&P Dow Jones Indices and are used with permission.