Renewable energy success relies heavily on local communities, not just state or federal policies. COSSA Institute's Jeremiah Garrick emphasizes that local support ultimately makes or breaks projects, a reality currently playing out across rural Colorado.

Megha Mehdiratta of the New York Climate Exchange discusses building a "living test bed" campus on Governor's Island. By fostering inclusive, interdisciplinary collaboration across finance and science, The Exchange accelerates early-stage innovations into viable, scalable global climate solutions.

While venture capital often focuses on finding the next unicorn, Baylie Evans takes a different approach: cultivating entrepreneurs and strengthening local ecosystems to create lasting value in places where opportunity is less concentrated.