Solar Electricity Arrives at the White House; Evergreen Solar Installs a Solar Electric System at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Business Wire, Jan 8, 2003

Energy Editors/Business Editors

MARLBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 8, 2003

Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR) today announced the installation of a 9 kW photovoltaic (PV) system at the White House for the National Park Service.

The new solar roof in Washington, D.C. is the first solar electric project on the White House grounds.

James Doherty, the architect and project manager at the National Park Service Office for White House Liaison, said, "We believe in these technologies, and they've been working for us very successfully. The National Park Service as a whole has long been interested in both sustainable design and renewable energy sources. We also have a mission to lower our energy consumption at all our sites, and we saw an opportunity to do both at the White House grounds."

"The Park Service is supporting the use of clean, renewable energy from the sun by overseeing this installation. It's an important milestone in building awareness for solar energy usage in residential and commercial buildings, and a step in the right direction in promoting energy independence," said Steven J. Strong, President of Solar Design Associates and an internationally noted solar advocate. "Sustainable, environmentally responsive solar electric systems have been in use from Maine to California for three decades, but there is something special about an installation at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue."

Solar Design Associates designed and oversaw the installation, which was placed on the roof of the main building used for White House grounds maintenance. The PV system directly feeds solar-generated power into the White House grounds' distribution system, providing electricity wherever it is needed. Two solar thermal systems, one to heat the pool and spa and one to provide domestic hot water, were also installed.

The grid-tied PV system consists of 167 solar panels manufactured by Evergreen Solar that cover the roof of the maintenance facility. The entire system installation was completed over a three-day period and includes a data acquisition system for monitoring the performance of the array and its ancillary electronic components.

Solar Design Associates selected Evergreen Solar to supply the PV panels for the project due to the superior quality of the panels and the fact that they were made in America. Mr. Strong remarked, "Evergreen Solar is the classic, home-grown success story, where a small group of dedicated individuals, starting from modest beginnings in a 'garage,' proved the commercial viability of their technology, and subsequently have become a significant player in the global solar market."

"We are very pleased to see this kind of governmental support for solar electricity. Evergreen Solar's panels were chosen for this installation by Steven Strong, one of the world's most respected solar designers and a true pioneer in the industry," commented Mark A. Farber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Evergreen Solar. "We hope the success of this project will spur future applications of highly reliable, pollution-free solar power. Whether it is on a single residence or a commercial building, solar electricity is an important option in the quest for energy independence."

About Evergreen Solar, Inc.

Evergreen Solar, Inc. (www.evergreensolar.com) develops, manufactures, and markets solar power products utilizing the Company's patented solar power technologies. The products provide reliable and environmentally clean electric power in global markets. Solar power applications include wireless power for remote homes, water pumping, lighting, and rural electrification, as well as complete power systems for electric utility customers choosing to generate their own environmentally benign power.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Company cautions you that any statements contained in this press release which are not strictly historical statements constitute forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements reflecting management's expectations regarding the timing, cost, and success of the Company's current and future manufacturing scale-up and production; future financial performance; and the Company's technology and product development, cost, and performance. These statements may be identified with such words as "we expect", "we believe", "we anticipate", or similar indications of future expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the following factors: the Company's business and results of operations could be materially impaired as a result of poor manufacturing or product performance or higher costs attributable to the expansion or operation of manufacturing facilities; the market for solar power products is emerging and rapidly developing, and market demand for solar power products such as the Company's products is uncertain; the Company has limited experience manufacturing large volumes of solar power products on a commercial basis at acceptable costs, which it will need to do in order to be successful; the Company faces intense competition from other companies producing solar power and other distributed energy generation products; the Company sells via a small number of reseller partners, and the Company's relationships with current or prospective marketing or strategic partners may be affected by adverse developments in the Company's business, the partner's business, competitive factors, solar power market conditions, or financial market conditions; and the market for products such as the Company's solar power products is heavily influenced by federal, state, local, and foreign government regulations and policies, as well as the availability and size of government subsidies and economic incentives, over which the Company has little control. In addition to the foregoing factors, the other economic, competitive, governmental, technological, and other risk factors identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission - including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, filed on March 28, 2002, and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002, filed on November 14, 2002 (copies of which may be obtained at the SEC's web site at: http://www.sec.gov) - could impact the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any such statements to reflect any change in Company expectations, or in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statements may be based, or that may affect the likelihood that actual results will differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.