In the Media

Insights from Highwire's Energy and Sustainability Roundtable

The energy and sustainability landscape is evolving faster than ever, and 2025 promises to be a year of profound shifts and challenges. That was the consensus among top energy and climate reporters who gathered for a recent roundtable discussion hosted by Highwire’s Energy and Sustainability Practice. Featuring Laila Kearney from Reuters, Maeve Allsup from Latitude Media, and Katie Brigham from Heatmap, and moderated by Melinda Briana Epler, the conversation explored the state of energy technology, the future of the grid, and the political and market forces shaping the energy transition.

Key takeaways from industry leaders

For businesses committed to sustainable practices, creating actionable impact strategies is a top priority. Executing those strategies is another matter entirely. In a complex landscape of regulatory shifts, stakeholder expectations, and the stark effects of climate change, how can business leaders rise to the challenge and honor their commitments to sustainability?

AI may dominate business conversations worldwide, but it didn’t dominate panels or news coverage at Climate Week, the largest gathering of companies and people tackling the climate crisis, or RE+, the solar industry’s largest trade show. AI was barely mentioned at either event.

Unprecedented extreme weather, political pushback and the biggest funding bills in its history have pushed sustainability center stage for businesses. Highwire recently hosted a LinkedIn Live panel titled, "Sustainability Changes and Challenges During an Era of Extremes," to examine the current state and future impact of climate change, and announce the launch of its Energy & Sustainability practice, which includes clients Beewise, Hitachi Energy, PG&E, Schneider Electric's AutoGrid and others. 

The ESG journey has taken many turns over the last year, from a nice-to-have to a corporate strategy influencer to a political hot-button issue.  Despite a growing number of bills restricting ESG business practices – there are currently at least 99 bills being discussed within Congress – up from 39 in 2022, many leaders still view ESG goals and reporting as a priority for their organization. Therefore, it’s imperative that organizations - especially those in tech -  understand how to tell an authentic ESG story. Let’s dive in.