Retool’26, a one-day conference scheduled for June 9 at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, will feature nationally recognized speakers and panelists, all focused on energy innovation and industry.

The conference, organized by the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities, is part of the BPU’s Retool WNY initiative.

Two keynote speakers will open the morning session, both focused on energy storage systems and off-grid solutions for modern manufacturing.

Hassan Obeid of Cummins Inc.’s New Energy Solutions Division, based in Minneapolis, Minn., leads a team researching Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), stationary proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC), and microgrid power systems for the global company, which has an engine manufacturing plant in Jamestown. Obeid is the global technical sales leader and has worked at Cummins for more than 18 years.

The second morning keynote speaker will be Jon M. Williams, founder and CEO of Viridi Parente Inc. of Buffalo. Viridi is a leader in the development and production of scalable battery systems, including the largest in-building battery storage system. The company recently installed a battery backup system for the Erie County Wastewater Division to modernize a wastewater pumping station and to reduce reliance on diesel fuel.

Viridi has deployed indoor, behind-the-meter installations across industrial, medical, commercial, and municipal buildings, and recently completed the purchase of a battery storage production facility in California, enabling expansion of its product lines nationwide. Williams will focus his remarks on energy as an asset for manufacturers and how energy storage systems, coupled with AI and advanced analytics, can help meet future energy needs on production lines.

The lunchtime keynote speaker will be Sean Ewart, New York’s Deputy Secretary for Energy. Ewart will speak about the need to balance economic development and energy policies to attract new businesses and ensure the state has sufficient energy now and in the future. Ewart has been an advisor on energy policy in both the public and private sectors and has worked in the Executive Chamber for five years.

Afternoon panel session topics include a group of energy entrepreneurs and innovators, companies working to decarbonize waste streams, and examples of successful applications of robotics and AI in small and medium manufacturing environments.

Co-presenting partners for this year’s event include non-profit NextCorps and the Scale for ClimateTech program, which is administered by NextCorps and SecondMuse.

These two organizations are helping to scale up manufacturing in New York State, with a focus on commercializing clean technologies and solutions.

“The BPU’s Retool’26 promises to be a day-long opportunity for local and regional manufacturing leaders to meet and learn from experts who are pioneering in the clean energy sector with the help of AI,” said Jamestown BPU General Manager Kristofor Sellstrom. “It is vital that area manufacturers keep informed of front-line innovations that can positively affect their operations right here in our community.”

BPU Business Development Coordinator Ellen Ditonto, who serves as the event’s organizer, said she is looking forward to the conference and its focus on topics critical to manufacturers and businesses.

“This conference is a great opportunity for our regional manufacturers to take one day away from their companies to hear about cutting-edge innovations that could help their bottom lines,” said Ditonto. “The supply chain opportunities in the clean energy sector are expanding quickly, and Chautauqua County is ideally placed to serve as a hub to supply the needs of both energy storage and semiconductor manufacturers. In addition, attendees will hear about success stories with small and medium companies using AI as a tool to improve production efficiency, and how adding robotics to production lines can help employees move into higher-level technical roles.”

Attendees will have an opportunity to meet with a variety of vendors and organizations that support manufacturers during an afternoon vendor fair.

Tickets for Retool’26 are available at: Retool26.eventbrite.com with early bird pricing available through May 3.

In addition to the Jamestown BPU, NextCorps Manufacturing Accelerator and Scale for ClimateTech, sponsors include the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency, Shults Subaru, National Grid, R.W. Earl Automation, Insyte Consulting and Phillips Lytle.

Sponsorship and vendor opportunities remain available. For more information, contact Ditonto at 716-661-1686 or by email at businessdev@jamestownbpu.com.