Wednesday, August 26
WELCOME RECEPTION
Time: 5 – 8 p.m. Location: Stories on High
Address: 402 N. High St., Columbus OH
Thursday, August 27
ENERGY CONFERENCE
Time: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Hilton Downtown Columbus
Address: 401 N. Hight St, Columbus, OH
8:00 a.m. Registration Opens
8:00 – 8:45 Continental Breakfast and Networking in the Sponsor Court
8:45 – 9:00 Welcome
9:00 – 9:30 MORNING KEYNOTE: Energy Group Panel
Start the day with an update on the state of play in Ohio energy policy from OMA Energy Group counsel Kim Bojko and Plaskolite’s Tim Ling. This plenary session highlights the Ohio Manufacturers Association’s ongoing efforts to advance manufacturers’ interests in energy policy across the state and how they are leveraging the collective strength and insights of the OMA Energy Group.
Moderator: TBD
Speakers: Kim Bojko (Carpenter Lipps), Tim Ling (Plaskolite)
9:30 – 9:45 Networking Break in the Sponsor Court
9:45 – 10:45 BREAKOUT SESSION 1
Energy markets are evolving rapidly, making reliable forecasting and strategic procurement more important than ever. Hear from subject matter experts on how electricity and natural gas forecasts are developed and how they impact procurement decisions. Attendees will gain insight into key market trends and constraints for these markets and what they may mean for manufacturing operations and costs.
Moderator: TBD
Speakers: Susanne Buckley (Scioto Energy), John Pintozzi (Nutrien)
In this session we’ll explore practical, on-site solutions to advance energy efficiency and reliability in the plant. Hear case studies from manufacturers and energy professionals on how they achieved measurable savings and identified new opportunities for improvement. As utility costs continue to rise, leading companies are finding innovative ways to reduce energy use and strengthen operational resilience from within the plant. Attendees will walk away with actionable insights they can apply to their own facilities.
Moderator: TBD
Speakers: Mirko Borsi (Sofidel), Manufacturer 2, Go Sustainable Energy
10:45 – 11:00 Networking Break in the Sponsor Court
11:00 – 12:00 BREAKOUT SESSION 2
This session provides timely updates on federal energy policy shaping today’s manufacturing and power landscape. Panelists will discuss emerging priorities related to data centers, national energy trends, and rising costs. Key topics include transmission planning and policy, recent developments at FERC, and updates on interconnection and permitting processes. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how federal actions may impact energy availability, costs, and project timelines.
Moderator: TBD
Speakers: Karen Onaron (Elcon), Kent Chandler (R Street Institute)
This session explores behind-the-meter (BTM) energy solutions, including on-site generation and storage technologies that are reshaping how manufacturers manage power. Panelists will share insights into current market trends and technology developments in their respective fields. They will also discuss key considerations for manufacturers evaluating on-site generation, from feasibility and economics to integration with existing operations.
Moderator: TBD
Speakers: Tina Wolff (Kokosing), Bloom Energy
12:00 – 1:00 LUNCHEON KEYNOTE
1:00 – 1:10 Networking Break in the Sponsor Court
1:10 – 2:10 BREAKOUT SESSION 3
This session highlights one of the most ambitious public-private partnerships in modern energy and digital infrastructure development. Representatives from SB Energy, a subsidiary of SoftBank, will present their work on a proposed 10 GW AI data center campus and 9.2 GW natural gas generation project at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Portsmouth site in Piketon, Ohio. The discussion will explore how this multi-billion-dollar initiative came together, from site selection to regulatory coordination.
Moderator: TBD
Speakers: SoftBank
This session explores emerging energy technologies that are offering new solutions for manufacturers and the broader electricity grid. The discussion will focus on the current state of small modular reactors (SMRs) and other innovative energy ventures in development. Speakers will explain how these technologies work and what stage they are at in terms of commercialization and deployment.
Moderator: Jade Davis (BRITE Energy Innovators)
Speakers: Jay O’Bryant (Vistra), Jay McChesney (Williams)
2:10 – 2:20 Networking Break in the Sponsor Court
2:20 – 3:00 AFTERNOON KEYNOTE
In this plenary session, Jonathan Koomey, Ph.D., will explore national load forecasting with a focus on the rapidly evolving role of data centers in electricity demand. Recent headlines have raised concerns that surging data center growth could strain aging power infrastructure and challenge climate goals. Dr. Koomey will examine the accuracy of these narratives and unpack the real drivers behind data center load growth. Attendees will gain a clearer, data-driven perspective on what is actually shaping future electricity demand and what it means for the energy system.
Speaker: Jonathan Koomey, Ph.D. (Koomey Analytics)
3:00 Program Concludes
3:00 – 4:00 Join us for the Networking Cocktail Reception in the Sponsor Court!
