In this episode of Atlas Live, Nick Nigro welcomes back Angela Barranco, Executive Director for North America at Climate Group, for a preview of Climate Week NYC 2026. This event returns at a critical moment for climate and energy policy, with affordability concerns, political shifts, and a busy election cycle shaping the national conversation. We'll hear from Angela about how the events will bring together policymakers, advocates, businesses, and other leaders to advance the next phase of climate action.

Energy bills are rising across the country, putting new pressure on households, utilities, and state policymakers. In this episode of Atlas Live, Nick Nigro sits down with Dr. Zenon Christodoulou, Commissioner at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and Josephus Allmond, Chief Energy Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia. We’ll discuss what’s driving higher electricity costs and how state leaders are responding. We’ll also explore what tools states have to improve affordability while maintaining reliable service, achieving sustainability goals, and continuing to invest in the grid.

Across the country, state energy efficiency programs are facing new scrutiny as policymakers look for ways to address rising energy bills. But will cutting or pausing these programs actually make energy more affordable, and who benefits when program budgets are reduced? In this episode of Atlas Live, Atlas’s Stephen Naimoli sits down with Mark Kresowik of ACEEE and Bryan Howard of Montgomery County, Maryland, to discuss the politics and impacts of energy efficiency program cuts, what these changes mean for households and utilities, and what other options states have to improve affordability while continuing to support long-term efficiency and resilience.