ECD Ovonics Provides Expert Resources for Alternative Energy Stories and Reaction to Blackout 2003

* Hydrogen Economy Pioneer Plays Major Role in Advancing Nation's Future in Alternative Energy Resources

* Veterans in The Energy and Automotive Industries, ECD Ovonics' Executives Provide Critical Input on How Nation Could Mitigate an Economic Disaster such as Blackout 2003

  WHO: Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (ECD Ovonics; Nasdaq: ENER)
  *  The pioneer in hydrogen-based energy solutions

* A major proponent of renewable energy and the hydrogen economy vision since the company's founding in 1960

* A leader in solar power systems, rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, and solid hydrogen storage systems

* Key spokespeople include key executives from the energy and automotive industries, as well as key scientists behind most alternative energy solutions on the market today.

WHAT: Since the blackout of 2003, there has been a great deal of concern over the vulnerabilities of an antiquated power grid. The nation's critical infrastructure -- financial markets, medical facilities, telecommunications, even local water supplies and fuel supplies -- do not need to be exclusively dependent on the power grid. Alternative/renewable energy systems are available now for stand-by and emergency use.

"There is no economic or technological reason for traffic lights to fail, for diesel generators to be the only option during an emergency, and for Cleveland's entire water system to be disabled," said James Metzger, ECD Ovonics' Chief Operating Officer. "It's a matter of reducing the nation's sole dependence on the grid. Spending billions of dollars to add more capacity to the grid will not prevent future blackouts and huge financial losses again in the future. There are things that can be done today to mitigate disasters like this in the future which both augment the grid and provide distributed generation opportunities. Total independence from the grid is not nor it should be a goal. However, managing and mitigating the inevitable failures of the grid should be the goal."

Much of the nation may forget the experience of Blackout 2003 until this type of disaster occurs again in the future. Therefore, it is critical that the government and other key industry participants start implementing alternative energy solutions and start investing in a future of reducing dependency and taking pressure off the nation's power grid.

"The economics of grid failures are self-evident: lost productivity, destruction of devices/appliances attached to the grid, and spoiled food," continued Metzger. "Because these economic disasters continue, we have no return on investment. With renewable technologies, we are seeing an immediate ROI which mitigate some of the negatives mentioned above."

Alternative/renewable energy is here to stay and will undoubtedly account for a growing percentage of the nation's power supply. The technology and the products to make a considerable impact is already developed, ready to put into place and will continue to evolve.

  WHEN: Spokespeople available today

  WHERE: ECD Ovonics based in Rochester Hills, MI

WHY: Alternative/renewable energy solutions are available NOW. Economics, technology and product availability should drive the solutions to our current grid model. Hundreds of billions of dollars would be required to adequately update the current grid model. Employing alternative/renewable energy solutions would require a fraction of that investment. The technology AND the products exist today to provide networks of "stand-alone" solutions that can serve as uninterruptible power supplies or as primary sources of power.

PRNewswire -- Sept. 2