Orion Energy Systems: Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson visits, tours Orion Energy Systems facility

Nelson to see Orion’s direct renewable technology, discuss renewable portfolio standard legislation

MANITOWOC, Wis. — April 24, 2009 — Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson (D-Kaukauna) will tour Orion Energy Systems’ Manitowoc, Wis., manufacturing facility at 12:00 p.m. today.

Orion Energy Systems (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 direct renewable products for commercial and industrial customers.

Rep. Nelson will tour Orion’s manufacturing facility and new technology center, which opened on Earth Day, and meet with President and CEO Neal Verfuerth to discuss renewable portfolio standards legislation.

“We appreciate Representative Nelson’s interest in how Orion technology is contributing to our economic recovery by saving commercial and industrial customers significant amounts of money and relieving some of the pressure on our nation’s electrical grid,” said Verfuerth.

Nelson has been a supporter of renewable portfolio standards legislation, which requires 25 percent of electricity to be produced by renewable energy by 2025. “It will require ongoing innovations in energy efficient technology for us to meet the 2025 goal,” said Nelson. “Companies like Orion will be at the forefront of helping us meet these important goals, which will lead to economic recovery and the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.”

Orion’s innovation and technology recently won the praise of President Barack Obama, who applauded Orion in a White House speech promoting clean energy, the creation of green collar jobs and the importance of energy efficiency. Obama challenged Orion and other clean energy companies to “mount a historic effort to end once and for all our dependence on foreign oil.”

Orion is poised to meet President Obama’s challenge, using its technology to help the U.S. overcome electrical grid capacity challenges by delivering permanent distributed load reduction. Orion’s technology centers on its integrated system that includes Orion’s high-intensity fluorescent Compact Modular™ lighting platform, the InteLite® wireless control system and the direct renewable Apollo® Solar Light Pipe.

When deployed in industrial and commercial facilities, the integrated system permanently reduces energy consumption, freeing electrical capacity for constrained utilities, and decreasing greenhouse gases, which are the byproduct of electricity generation.

Nelson represents Wisconsin’s 5th district, which includes part of the Green Bay and Fox Valley area. To request submitted photos of Nelson’s visit to Orion, contact Linda Diedrich, Orion’s director of corporate communications, at (920) 482-1988 or ljd@oes1.com.

Orion has deployed its energy management systems in 3,762 facilities across North America. Since 2001, Orion technology has displaced more than 357 megawatts, saving customers more than $401 million and reducing indirect carbon dioxide emissions by 3.6 million tons.

About Orion Energy Systems Inc.

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. For more information, visit http://www.oriones.com.

Media Contact

Linda Diedrich

Director Corporate Communications

(920) 482-1988

ljd@oes1.com