Konarka Executive Chairman and Co-Founder Joins Board of Directors at Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

Howard Berke Completes Term as Board Director at American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE); Transitions to Board Director at SEIA

Lowell, Mass. – Jan. 21, 2009 – Konarka Technologies, Inc., an innovator in development and commercialization of Power Plastic®, a material that converts light to energy, today announced that Howard Berke, executive chairman and co-founder of Konarka, will offer his wide range of experience in renewable energy as the newest member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Board of Directors. Founded in 1974, SEIA is the leading national trade association for the solar energy industry, working to expand markets, strengthen research and development, remove market barriers and improve education and outreach for solar energy professionals. Mr. Berke completed his 4-year term as director at the American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE), a non-profit advocacy group dedicated to advancing renewable energy.

“It is important that I continue to work with organizations like SEIA that are striving toward the goal of making renewable energy widely available at a competitive cost,” commented Howard Berke, executive chairman and co-founder of Konarka. “I look forward to working with SEIA to promote clean, sustainable, renewable energy sources to be widely deployed in the U.S. and around the world.”

Mr. Berke has nearly 30 years of hands-on management experience launching, building and leading both public and private technology companies, including 20 years of general management with full P&L responsibility for eight start-up companies and nine years of business development and marketing focusing on emerging technologies. He has founded or co-founded 13 start-up companies and has initiated and completed numerous corporate acquisitions, mergers and R&D joint ventures in the U.S., Europe and Asia. He advises start-up companies and entrepreneurs in a wide range of fields including medical devices, biotech informatics, software, networking, telecom and energy technology. In addition to this work, Mr. Berke is actively involved in the advancement of federal policy making in support of the development, scaling and deployment of renewable energy product technologies.

“The Solar Energy Industries Association is pleased to welcome Howard Berke as a member of Board of Directors,” said SEIA president and CEO Rhone Resch. “Howard’s knowledge and experience in solar energy will complement an already excellent and diverse board. I look forward to working with Howard and all of SEIA’s Board of Directors in promoting federal policies that expand the solar industry and create green-collar jobs across the country.”

The primary activities of SEIA are to effectuate federal policy that reduces barriers and improves market conditions for the U.S. solar energy market. SEIA coordinates with several state and regional chapters and other groups including the American Solar Energy Society, Solar Alliance, Solar Electric Power Association, Solar Nation and Vote Solar along with numerous renewable energy, business and environmental groups.

About SEIA
Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of more than 800 solar energy manufacturers, project developers, distributors, contractors, installers, architects, consultants and financiers. Established in 1974, SEIA works to expand the use of solar technologies in the global marketplace, strengthen research and development, remove market barriers, and improve education and outreach for solar. Learn more at www.seia.org.  

About Konarka Technologies, Inc.
Konarka develops and manufactures solar plastic films that convert light to energy – anywhere. As the leading developer of polymer-based, organic photovoltaic (OPV) technology that provide a source of renewable power in a variety of form factors, Konarka has a broad portfolio of patents, technology licenses and an accomplished technical, scientific and manufacturing team. Manufactured at low cost and low energy consumption, the company's Power Plastic® technology is lightweight, flexible, scalable and adaptable for use in a variety of commercial, industrial, government and consumer applications. Konarka Technologies is headquartered in Lowell, Mass., U.S.A. and has a full scale production manufacturing facility in New Bedford, Mass. U.S.A., with European headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, business development offices in Asia and a research and development facility in Austria. For additional information, visit http://www.konarka.com.

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