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Millbrook, NY-- (Millbrook, NY) – The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC) has opened registration for its Spring 2026 Natural Refrigerant Training Summit series, bringing free, hands-on refrigeration workforce training to New York State for the first time.
The three-day Natural Refrigerant Training Summit will take place February 10 through 12, 2026 in Poughkeepsie, New York. The event is designed for refrigeration and HVAC technicians as the industry transitions toward natural refrigerants that reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and align with evolving climate and safety standards.
Hosted through NASRC’s R TRADE initiative, the summit is co-hosted with New Yorkers for Clean Power and Cornell Cooperative Extension Smart Energy Choices – Mid Hudson. The event includes concurrent technician training sessions on CO2 and propane systems led by multiple manufacturers and industry experts, hands-on breakout sessions with access to equipment, and an exhibit hall featuring the latest natural refrigerant products and service offerings. A half-day advanced workshop on February 12 will focus on practical applications, controls, and real-world troubleshooting for technicians seeking deeper technical experience.
“We see this summit as a way of bringing awareness of the benefits of New York State transitioning to natural refrigerants for the equipment that keeps our food fresh and beverages cold,” said Thomas Wright, Workforce Programs Advisor for New Yorkers for Clean Power and the Mid-Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub. “Conventional refrigerants used in large scale refrigeration systems have a climate heating potential that is several thousand times that of natural refrigerants. To ensure these polluting and outdated refrigerants are phased out, the refrigeration industry needs NASRC training summits to create widespread education and awareness.”
Wright added that the impact extends beyond environmental benefits. “In addition to greenhouse gas mitigation benefits, there are very real local workforce benefits that will result from regional technicians and students receiving hands-on technical training on the latest refrigeration technologies. The refrigeration trade has seen technicians retiring without enough new workers filling these roles. We hope this summit brings awareness to this well-paying clean energy career and contributes to a more robust workforce.”
Student Career Track and Career Fair
The summit also features a dedicated Student Career Track, inviting HVAC/R students and faculty to participate in the FREE Cool Futures: Refrigeration Career Fair, connecting students with employers from across the refrigeration industry. The fair provides opportunities to explore career pathways, build industry connections, and gain exposure to emerging refrigeration technologies.
Title: Cool Futures: Refrigeration Career Fair HVAC/R Student Networking Event
Date: February 11, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:15 PM
Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
Description:
HVAC/R students and faculty are invited to participate in a FREE career fair with employers from the refrigeration industry. Join us to connect with the industry and learn about this outstanding career path. Participants will learn about career opportunities, connect with leading industry employers, and gain exposure to the latest refrigeration technologies.
“I have watched NASRC conduct these very popular and informative summits around the country,” said Michael Helme, Lead Volunteer with New Yorkers for Cool Refrigerant Management. “Because New York’s refrigerant regulations encourage food enterprises to switch to natural refrigerants as early as possible, it is especially meaningful to see one held here. The Poughkeepsie summit is a great opportunity for experienced technicians to gain valuable skills while also giving those new to the trade a chance to build industry connections in a field that will be in high demand for years to come. Many thanks go to NASRC, New Yorkers for Clean Power, the Mid-Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub, NYSERDA, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for making this possible.”
The Poughkeepsie summit marks the first New York stop in NASRC’s Spring 2026 national training series, which also includes events in St. Louis, Missouri and Irwindale, California. Each summit includes training, networking opportunities, and career engagement for technicians, students, employers, and manufacturers across the refrigeration sector.
“These summits are about removing barriers to training and building the workforce the industry actually needs right now,” said Danielle Wright, Executive Director of NASRC. “By bringing technicians together for hands on learning and connection, we are supporting both people and climate goals.”
Funding support for the New York summit is provided by the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, reinforcing the state’s commitment to workforce readiness and climate forward infrastructure.
Registration is free and open to refrigeration technicians, contractors, and industry professionals. Field technicians will receive priority registration. Space is limited. For full event details and registration, visit nasrc.org/rtrade/poughkeepsie-2026 or midhudsonenergychoices.org
About NASRC
The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate refrigeration’s environmental impact by accelerating the transition to natural refrigerants through education, training, and industry collaboration.
About Mid-Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub
The Mid-Hudson Regional Clean Energy Hub, operating as Mid-Hudson Energy Choices, is a community-based clean energy resource network serving Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties. It was established through a regional partnership led by Cornell Cooperative Extension associations within the Hudson Valley and supported by Sustainable Westchester and New Yorkers for Clean Power to help residents, businesses, and organizations navigate and benefit from New York State’s clean energy transition. The Hub’s Energy Advisors provide free, personalized support in making energy decisions, accessing rebates and programs, improving energy efficiency, and connecting to clean energy job and training opportunities. The Hub’s goal is to make clean energy solutions practical, affordable, and equitable for communities across the Mid-Hudson region.
About New Yorkers for Clean Power
New Yorkers for Clean Power (NYCP) is a statewide collaborative campaign to rapidly shift to an equitable clean energy economy. Through education, advocacy and organizing, the campaign engages the public, local governments and businesses to advance a range of renewable energy, building decarbonization, and clean transportation solutions.NYCP is focused on advancing solar, wind, energy efficiency, heat pumps, and electric vehicles, as well as creating jobs in these industries for all communities in New York. NYCP is a Project of the Catskill Mountainkeeper Inc.
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