Alpena County Honored for Economic Leadership in Energy Efficiency by Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Energy Services Coalition-Michigan Chapter

Alpena County recognized for performing critical energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades at Northern Lights Arena, jail, courthouse and additional facilities saving the County more than $102,000 annually.

FRAMINGHAM, MA and ALPENA, MI – November 7, 2013 – Ameresco, Inc., (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, announced today that Alpena County located in northeastern Michigan is being honored for its Economic Leadership in Energy Efficiency by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Energy Services Coalition-Michigan Chapter at an award ceremony today in Lansing, Michigan.  The event is being held at the Michigan Municipal League office.  Alpena County Commissioners Cam Habermehl and Tom Mullaney will accept the award on behalf of the County.

Early in 2013 Ameresco began work on a comprehensive $1.6 million Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) with Alpena County.  Expected to be completed by the end of the year, it is projected that the ESPC will save the County more than $102,000 in annual energy and operational savings through numerous energy efficiency and critical infrastructure improvements throughout County-owned buildings and facilities.

“We are honored to have been selected for this prestigious award,” said Commissioner Lyle VanWormer, Chair of Finance Committee, Alpena County. “Our partnership with Ameresco has enabled us to increase the energy efficiency of our buildings and improves comfort and productivity for the building occupants. Although faced with a strained annual budget, the ESPC model allows us to bond our project, implement the necessary infrastructure upgrades, repay the investment with the guaranteed savings provided through the ESPC, and avoid future capital costs.”

Prior to beginning work on the ESPC, Ameresco performed a full investment grade audit to identify areas where energy savings measures could be implemented throughout the County’s buildings and facilities. The wide-ranging ESPC involves the implementation of several energy conservation measures in multiple facilities including the Northern Lights Arena, jail, courthouse, pool, County fairgrounds, airport, annex and Michigan Department of Correction offices.  The upgrades across County buildings include new lighting, building envelope and weatherization improvements, water conservation measures, HVAC building automation expansions and mechanical improvements.  The project also includes streamlining control of County equipment into one open, non-proprietary system with web-access and remote alerts.

Once complete, these measures will improve performance, control and comfort at County facilities as well as reduce maintenance and operating costs.  In addition to expected savings on energy and operating costs, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to be reduced by 601 metric tons, which is the equivalent of taking 125 cars off the road or avoiding consumption of nearly 1,400 barrels of oil.

“We congratulate Alpena County not only for today’s award but for their prudence and insight in embracing an ESPC solution,” said Louis P. Maltezos, Executive Vice President, Ameresco. “Like many communities, Alpena County needed to find a creative funding mechanism to pay for improving its aging infrastructure.  Ameresco is proud to be the County’s ESPC partner, and to help uncover energy conservation measures and provide the solution to repurpose those energy savings to pay for their County-wide infrastructure improvements.”

This contract builds on Ameresco’s work throughout Michigan where the Company has completed ESPC projects with Montcalm Community College and with Ovid-Elsie Area Schools, both in central Michigan.  Ameresco has a long history of partnering with counties, schools, and municipalities to improve energy infrastructure and install renewable energy technologies.  Ameresco’s ESPC financing model has made the budget-neutral solution an increasingly popular option for customers in Michigan and across North America.  It enables budget-neutral energy efficiency upgrades by guaranteeing a minimum level of energy savings over the term of the contract.  Ameresco coordinates the upfront project costs and the County repays that investment with their energy savings over time.

About Alpena County
Alpena County is located in the state of Michigan and is comprised of 1,695 square miles.  Originally founded in 1840 as Anomickee County, it is considered part of Northern Michigan and has a population of 29,396.

About Ameresco, Inc.
Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for facilities throughout North America. Ameresco’s services include upgrades to a facility’s energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants.  Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers.  With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco provides local expertise through its 70 offices in 33 states and five Canadian provinces. Ameresco has more than 900 employees. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.