Aliya Haq and Rich Powell on Energy Affordability and the New Congress

Columbia Energy Exchange · Nov 10, 2026 · 44m · transcript

Affordability was one of the key issues that drove US voters to the polls last week, and the resulting message for the newly elected Congress is clear: driving down costs is job number one. As part of that, energy affordability has become the most politically consequential issue in US energy policy.

But energy affordability is wrapped up in many other issues, from the Iran war to surging energy demand and an aging electric grid. So what can lawmakers do to address today's energy affordability crisis while also making durable improvements to the resilience and security of the US power supply?…