On January 13, 2026, leaders from industry, academia, government, and the community gathered in Las Cruces for the AI & Energy Conference, presented by MVEDA, and held at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces. The full-day event explored the growing intersection of artificial intelligence, advanced computing, and the energy systems that power them, with a particular emphasis on regional development and infrastructure. The conference was co-sponsored by El Paso Electric.
Enrico Pontelli, New Mexico AI Consortium (NMAIC) founder and faculty member at New Mexico State University, attended the conference and delivered a 30-minute presentation on AI education and research initiatives at NMSU and across the region. His remarks highlighted the role of the NMAIC in coordinating partnerships and building pathways to meet New Mexico’s growing AI workforce needs.
Panels and presentations throughout the day examined the impact of AI across diverse sectors, with a strong focus on energy planning, community and economic impacts, and smart community strategies. Discussions emphasized the importance of aligning technological innovation with reliable, sustainable energy systems as AI-driven investments continue to expand.
The conference underscored New Mexico’s emerging leadership at the intersection of AI and energy and reinforced NMAIC’s mission to support education, research, and workforce development as the state positions itself for long-term growth in America’s next industrial era.
Learn more about the AI & Energy Conference here.