Konarka Press Release
 
 

PRESS CONTACT:
Tracy Wemett, BroadPR
617-868-5031

Konarka Chairman Joins ACORE’s Board of Directors

Leading Renewable Energy Advocate Welcomes New Insight Into Expanding Opportunities for Alternative Power Sources

Lowell, Mass. – January 18, 2005 – Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in developing and commercializing power plastics that convert light to energy, today announced its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard Berke was elected to the board of directors of the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to advancing renewable energy. As a member of the ACORE board, Berke will share his entrepreneurial spirit and extensive business expertise to help ACORE grow its organization and meet its goals.

“To bring renewable energy into the mainstream of the U.S. economy and lifestyle, we need to tap into the knowledge of successful private sector entrepreneurs like Howard Berke,” said Michael Eckhart, ACORE’s president. “Since Konarka’s founding, Howard has demonstrated a fundamental understanding of what needs to be done to heighten the use of renewables. What he and his team at Konarka are doing to bring renewable technology to new markets – markets you couldn’t get into before – embodies ACORE’s mission. He’ll be an asset to our team.”

ACORE is focused on accelerating the adoption of renewable energy technologies into the mainstream of American society. The Council promotes all renewable energy options and their benefits for sustainable energy supply, national security, economic growth, productivity, human health and a cleaner environment. ACORE provides a common platform for the wide range of interests in the renewable energy community including renewable energy industries, associations, utilities, end users, professional service firms, financial institutions, nonprofit groups, universities and other educational organizations, and government agencies. It serves as a forum through which these parties work together on common interests, including policy, finance, marketing, international relations and professional development.

“Our vision to make renewable energy based on photovoltaic materials practicalin large-scale production, lower in cost and available worldwide fits nicely with ACORE’s goals,” said Berke. “In a world facing increasing pressure on its energy reserves, we need to ensure all practical forms of renewable energy achieve a greater impact. I look forward to working with ACORE to promote clean, sustainable, renewable energy sources as alternatives to fossil fuels.”

About Konarka Technologies, Inc.
Konarka builds products that convert light to energy – anywhere. Konarka is the leading developer of polymer photovoltaic products that provide a source of renewable power in a variety of form factors for commercial, industrial, government and consumer applications. Konarka’s photovoltaic nanotechnology is focused on delivering lightweight, flexible, scalable and manufacturable products. Konarka has a broad portfolio of patents, technology licenses and an accomplished technical team. Nobel Laureate Professor Alan Heeger (UC Santa Barbara) is the chief scientist for Konarka, and Dr. Michael Grätzel (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) is a senior scientific advisor. Konarka Technologies is headquartered in Lowell, Mass., U.S.A., with research and development subsidiaries in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. For more information, visit http://www.konarka.com or contact Tracy Wemett, BroadPR, at 617-868-5031 or .

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