President Obama featured Manitowoc's Orion Energy Systems during his Clean Energy Press Conference

Orion President and CEO speaks at the White House about innovation, clean energyPresident Obama talks about Orion Energy Systems and energy-efficiency.

To watch the video of President Obama’s comments, visit here: http://www.oriones.com/

MANITOWOC, Wis. - March 23, 2009 - Orion Energy Systems' (Nasdaq: OESX) President and CEO Neal Verfuerth on Monday participated in a panel discussion at the White House addressing innovation and clean energy.Following the panel, President Barack Obama addressed the media, panelists and those attending the discussion - including venture capitalists, scientists and entrepreneurs - touting clean energy, energy efficiency and his proposed budget that includes $150 billion over 10 years for clean energy and energy efficiency.Obama talked about Manitowoc’s Orion Energy Systems and gave a brief history of the company during his 12-minute speech, which was broadcast live on national news programs, and can be seen on the Orion Web site at http://www.oesx.com/ "Innovators like you (Orion Energy Systems) are creating the jobs that will foster our recovery and creating the technology that will power our long-term prosperity, so I thank you for your work," Obama said. "You are helping us to build a cleaner, brighter future, and stronger, more prosperous economy and my administration and your country will support you in your work. "We face an economic crisis unlike any we've known in a generation. You're helping us overcome this crisis."Orion's direct renewable Apollo(tm) Light Pipe was displayed on stage during the panel and Obama's comments. The Apollo(tm) Light Pipe harvests daylight and focuses it to a facility floor using no electricity. The light-capturing device has been proven to reduce a company's light-related energy costs to zero for up to 10 hours a day.The panel moderator was Van Jones, a special advisor to the President on the White House Council on Environmental Quality and who is helping shape policy to get as many jobs as possible out of President Obama's climate and energy proposals. Jones is the founding president of Green for All, "a national organization dedicated to building an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty," according to Jones' Web site.Orion has deployed its energy management systems in 4,387 facilities across North America. Since 2001, Orion technology has displaced more than 423 megawatts, saving customers more than $514 million and reducing indirect carbon dioxide emissions by 4.3 million tons. Orion's technology was recently internationally recognized with a Platts Global Energy Award for the single most innovative and sustainable green technology of 2008. Orion Energy Systems Inc. (Nasdaq: OESX) is a leading power technology enterprise that designs, manufactures and implements energy management systems, consisting primarily of high-performance, energy-efficient lighting systems, controls and related services for commercial and industrial customers without compromising their quantity or quality of light.

Herald Times Reporter Article http://www.htrnews.com/article/20090324/MAN0101/903240460/1984