BPU Retool ’22 Conference Keynote Speaker Clint Wilder and MC Mike McKay (October 18, 2022)

We’re halfway through the transition to modern energy according to Retool ’22 Conference keynote speaker Clint Wilder.

Wilder is the Editorial Director for CleanEdge which is a developer and publisher of stock indexes tracking clean energy, transportation, water, and the grid.

Speaking at Northwest Arena Tuesday morning, Wilder cited five key drivers that are accelerating the transition from fossil fuel to alternative energies such as wind and solar power. He said the first driver is the dramatically declining costs of solar, wind and battery storage, “We have a major shift in investment dollars from fossil fuels into clean energy. Public support in poll after poll in the U.S., and I’ll have some more information about this, something like 70% of Americans support more resources and policy support for clean energy.”

Wilder said there has been an 85% drop in prices for solar and wind since 2010, which has made it competitive with natural gas.

Wilder said another driver is the development of the smart grid and electrification. He said smart grids support the way energy is digitized and stored, making for more efficient distribution. Wilder cited how California’s smart grid was able to handle a 10-day heatwave with no rolling blackouts as seen in the past.

He said policy support is another driver, seen in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act; and Infrastructure and Jobs Act, “So this is the biggest federal support that we’ve ever seen by far to put resources behind growth of clean energy. It’s something that we advocates in the industry have been calling for, waiting for, for a long time and it’s finally happened.”

Wilder said these policies in the last two years have seen immediate impact with multi-billion dollar manufacturing investments being made in the United States.

The Jamestown BPU’s Retool ’22 Conference continues Wednesday and will feature keynote speaker John Ellis at the Northwest Arena. For more information, visit jamestownbpu.com

Jamestown BPU Retool ’22 Keynote Speakers Clint Wilder and John Ellis

The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities‘ Retool ’22 Climate Tech Conference kicks off today.

The conference on Monday features afternoon visits to Chautauqua Institution and Robert H. Jackson Center with the full slate of panels, guest speakers, and other activities taking place Tuesday and Wednesday at the Northwest Arena in downtown Jamestown.

The three-day conference will feature industry leaders speaking about market opportunities that exist in climate technology, innovative ideas already being implemented in new business ventures and financial and technical resources available to support business development.

Representatives from secondary and higher educational institutions also will address new careers and workforce training.

Keynote speakers include Clint Wilder, a best-selling author and analyst who has covered the clean energy and climate tech industries for nearly two decades. He is the co-author of two books: The Clean Tech Revolution: The Next Big Growth and Investment Opportunity, and Clean Tech Nation: How the U.S. Can Lead in the New Global Economy. Wilder will give his keynote address at 9:15 a.m., Tuesday, October 18 on Rink A at the Northwest Arena.

John Ellis, best-selling author, software expert and former global technologist with Ford Motor Company, will present an address on opportunities and advancements in supply chain manufacturing and the transportation industry. He is Ellis & Associates’ Managing Director and is an expert in new and emerging transportation technology and how it is changing the way cities, airports and transportation authorities manage public spaces. Ellis is scheduled to give his keynote address at 9:15 a.m., Wednesday, October 19.

The Retool’22 Conference is expected to bring over 200 manufacturers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and educators to Jamestown.

A full schedule and registration information for the conference is available at jamestownbpu.com.