New York Climate Week Roundtable hosted by Rivington Energy & Climate Bonds Initiative

Electrification, Competitiveness & Resilience;
The Art of the Possible

Date: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Time: 13:00 - 15:00 EDT
Venue: Federated Hermes Offices, Suite 4100, 101 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10178
Agenda: Arrivals and Buffet Lunch (13.00 - 13.30) and Roundtable Discussion (13.30 - 15.00)


This closed-door discussion will bring together leaders from finance, policy and industry to explore the pathway to electrification and the development of investable, deliverable infrastructure pipelines.

Electricity demand is rising rapidly. The electrification of buildings, transport and industry, coupled with growing demand from AI and data centres, is reshaping energy needs faster than anticipated. The challenge is no longer simply generating renewable power but ensuring it can be delivered where and when it is needed.

Can our networks evolve quickly enough to support electrification at scale?

The discussion will focus on how policymakers, investors and industry can work together to create future-proof infrastructure and investment opportunities that meet both risk-return expectations and sustainability objectives. As the backbone of the energy transition, grids must be viewed as critical economic infrastructure that underpins the wider transition. 

Success will extend beyond individual assets, to the broader market, policy and regulatory conditions to accelerate investment, remove bottlenecks and align incentives across governments, utilities, investors and industry. 

The conversation will be led by Michael Hughes, CEO of Rivington Energy (part of the Federated Hermes group), and Sean Kidney, CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative. Together, they look forward to sharing their insights and facilitating an honest and bold discussion among peers and industry leaders.

Challenges to be discussed include:

  • What is needed now to turn demand into investable opportunities - credible pipelines, lower delivery risk, grid readiness, long-duration policy visibility and investable structures?  
  • From theory to reality - global examples: What has worked well in the global effort to accelerate electrification, and what lessons can be drawn from these successes?
  • What lessons are transferable and actionable in the US?
  • Where have efforts to advance electrification fallen short, and what have been the key barriers to implementation?
  • How can different stakeholders across the finance and market ecosystem work together more effectively to support electrification?
  • What are the most significant opportunities for accelerating electrification over the next decade
  • What is a coordinated system-wide approach to achieve the electrification ambitions? How to mobilise capital across the entire energy system to enable electrification at the pace required?
  • What role do financial institutions, policymakers, and market participants play in scaling electrification?

Spaces are limited. Please submit your application using the form below.

Your Details

Fill out the information below, then click 'submit' to apply for your place.

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