The Grainger College of Engineering
Coordinated Science Laboratory

Tanya Das

Abstract Title

Photo of Tanya Das
Tanya Das

Ultra scale projects
The shift toward building and powering gigawatt-scale data centers has exposed a widening gap between speed of infrastructure buildout and the role of AI in our economy. This presentation explores the policies enabling and preventing ultra-scale projects, arguing that future development is contingent upon coherence between state and federal objectives. To enable such projects, one must address the existing misalignment across federal policymakers, state utility commissions, governors, and local communities, which currently lack unified principles for managing AI load growth. This talk will propose frameworks to align these stakeholders, shifting the narrative from addressing an infrastructure crisis to enabling a national strategic asset. 

Biography

Dr. Tanya Das is a nationally-recognized expert on AI and energy policy. She was previously the Director of AI and Energy Technology Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center where she led policy development on AI and energy, lab-to-market initiatives, tech commercialization, and advanced manufacturing.

Prior to her tenure at BPC, Das developed initiatives to bolster U.S. competitiveness in emerging technology areas as the Chief of Staff for the Office of Science at the U.S. Department of Energy. She played a key role in crafting R&D provisions in President Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan.

In Congress, Das negotiated and advanced legislation on AI, grid modernization, energy storage, industrial emissions, and tech commercialization as a staffer on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. She also contributed to advanced manufacturing and workforce development policy in the Office of Senator Chris Coons.

Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets including NPR, Politico, Canary Media, and RTO Insider.

A Michigan native, Das earned her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.