ACCF Louisiana Economic & Energy Security Summit

Join policymakers, regulators, industry executives, and investors in New Orleans for a timely discussion on how America can power, finance, and build its next era of economic growth.

Higgins Hotel & Conference Center

October 15th, 2026 9:00 AM to 5:45 PM CT

October 16th, 2026 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM CT

Louisiana is where America’s energy security, industrial competitiveness, and capital formation agenda converge. At a moment when rising power demand, global competition, and supply chain realignment are testing the nation's ability to build, Louisiana is a real-world proving ground for whether the United States can permit, finance, power, and deliver the next industrial era.

The American Council for Capital Formation Third Annual Louisiana Economic & Energy Security Summit will focus on solutions to reliable and affordable power, faster permitting and project delivery, modern infrastructure, workforce readiness, trade competitiveness and the capital markets needed to finance growth at scale.

We look forward to seeing you in NOLA!

George David Banks
President & CEO
American Council for Capital Formation

LIVESTREAM

DAY TWO: ACCF SUMMIT LIVESTREAM

Agenda

Thu, Oct 15

Fri, Oct 16

9:00 AM

Event Start

9:00 AM - 9:05 AM

Welcome to the ACCF Louisiana Economic & Energy Security Summit

Welcoming remarks and recognition of the summit’s partners. Welcome and introduction of last year’s MC, Chrissy Harbin, former senior policy adviser to Sen. Cassidy.

9:05 AM - 9:15 AM

Opening Address: Louisiana and America’s Industrial Future

Senator Bill Cassidy highlights Louisiana’s role in strengthening American energy security, rebuilding domestic industrial capacity, and shaping the next economic era.

9:15 AM - 9:25 AM

Framing Remarks: Build. Power. Compete.

America cannot compete unless it can build—and it cannot build at scale without reliable, affordable energy. Louisiana is where these imperatives come together.

9:25 AM - 9:40 AM

Senior Government Official Remarks - Video

Video remarks from Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02) and Alex Fitzsimmons, Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy

9:45 AM - 10:20 AM

Louisiana at the Center: Energy, Industry, and National Strength

How Louisiana’s energy resources, industrial infrastructure, workforce, and global connectivity can support a new era of American investment and production.

10:25 AM - 11:10 AM

Refining Matters: Affordability, Resilience, and Security

How U.S. refiners protect consumers, sustain domestic supply chains, support military readiness, and supply reliable fuels to the United States and its allies.

11:15 AM - 11:55 AM

Made in America: Building the Next Industrial Base

Where companies are investing, what drives their location decisions, and what Louisiana and the nation must do to expand domestic production.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch Program – Legislative Perspectives

12:05 PM - 12:45 PM

Views from Capitol Hill: Senate Staff Discussion

A discussion on energy and industrial policy.

12:50 PM - 1:30 PM

Concurrent Session A: Views from Baton Rouge: Louisiana State Legislator Discussion

A discussion on energy and industrial policy.

Concurrent Session B: Foreign Pollution and its Harms to U.S. Economic Development

1:35 PM - 2:25 PM

Permission to Build: Permitting and Project Certainty

How uncertain approvals, litigation, and extended timelines affect investment decisions—and what greater predictability would mean for major energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects.

2:30 PM - 2:40 PM

Senior Government Official Remarks

2:45 PM - 3:25 PM

Working Waters: Offshore Energy and the Next Resource Frontier

How Louisiana’s offshore expertise, infrastructure, and workforce can support continued energy production while opening new opportunities in critical minerals and emerging technologies.

3:30 PM - 4:00 PM

The New Power Equation: AI, Data Centers, and Rising Demand

How unprecedented electricity demand is reshaping generation, transmission, infrastructure investment, siting decisions, and competition among states.

4:05 PM - 4:15 PM

Senior Government Official Remarks

Remarks from Jeff Wilson, Chief Strategy Officer, Export-Import Bank of the United States

4:20 PM - 5:00 PM

Energy as Statecraft: Exports, Security, and American Influence

How American energy exports support allies, stabilize markets, and reduce the ability of hostile governments to weaponize energy. This panel will also identify foreign barriers to U.S. energy exports and investment.

5:05 PM - 5:50 PM

Firm Power for Industrial Growth: Nuclear, Hydrogen, and Emerging Technologies

Which technologies can provide reliable, scalable energy for manufacturing and data centers—and what must happen for promising technologies to reach commercial deployment.

5:50 PM - 6:00 PM

Closing Remarks: From Building Capacity to Competing Globally

A brief synthesis of Thursday’s discussions and a preview of Friday’s agenda.

9:30 AM - 9:35 AM

Opening Remarks

9:35 AM - 9:50 AM

Senior Government Official Remarks

Remarks from Commissioner David LaCerte, FERC

9:55 AM - 10:25 AM

Senior Government Official Remarks Fireside Chat

A discussion of President's Trump permitting reform objectives with Emily Domenech, Executive Director, Permitting Council

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

Concurrent Session A: Powering the Next Investment

How reliable, affordable electricity—powered by all of the above—determines who wins the competition for manufacturing, data centers, and other energy-intensive investment.

Concurrent Session B: Talent, Research, and the Industrial Workforce

How Louisiana’s universities, research institutions, and workforce organizations can prepare workers, translate research into commercial applications, and support long-term industrial expansion.

11:20 AM - 11:55 AM

Materials That Matter: Securing Critical Minerals and Metals

How domestic processing, new technologies, private investment, and allied supply chains can reduce U.S. dependence on China for materials essential to energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing.

11:55 AM - 12:00 PM

How Louisiana Leads America in Advancing Energy Security

A concise synthesis of the summit’s conclusions: what must be built, how economic growth will be powered, and what policy and investment decisions are required for the United States to compete.

1:00 PM

Event End