Political and planning officials and academics met in Charlotte, NC on August 11th, 2009 to discuss the future of the Piedmont Atlantic Megaregion (PAM), which extends from Raleigh, NC to Birmingham, AL. The discussions focused on water, energy and transportation demands in the region. The meeting was a follow through of the megaregion's infrastructure-oriented forum held in March in Atlanta, GA.

PAM is one of eight megaregions nationwide that are defined based on population and economic activity projections. The meeting identified key issues pertaining to the major cities encompassed in PAM. For instance, Atlanta's main items addressed growth management, environmental protection, social equity, infrastructure management and economic development. Recent water issues in the region were also discussed. The upcoming concern for the region was predicted to center on energy.