ISLAND PARK, NY - September 22, 2011 - EmPower Solar, a SunPower Elite Dealer, has partnered with the City College of New York (Team New York) in the 2011 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon to leverage the dealer's expertise in the areas of designing, building and operating the solar powered home. "In preparation for the 2011 Solar Decathlon, Team New York approached EmPower, seeking an industry expert and high efficiency solar panels for its solar home entry," said EmPower Solar CEO David Schieren. "Passionate about the solar industry and the Solar Decathlon, we're confident that SunPower's solar panels, coupled with our years of experience in the market, will give Team New York an edge against the competition." Team New York selected the SunPower ®E19 / 240 Solar Panel for its design entry, Solar Roof Pod, in the decathlon. SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA, SPWRB), worked with EmPower Solar to provide the team with the industry's most reliable solar panels that also deliver the maximum power from a limited roof space, a key design requirement for the decathletes. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a program that aims to help the visiting public learn about the benefits of applying sustainable, energy efficient and cost-saving features to their own homes. This year, nineteen teams of university students will compete in 10 contests, including architecture, engineering, energy balance and market appeal. "Since EmPower was born out of the Solar Decathlon, having participated in 2005 on the NYIT/USMMA team, it has been especially gratifying to support Team New York in its quest to build a state of the art sustainable home and compete successfully in DC. The ultimate goal of the Solar Decathlon is about educating and challenging the next generation of leaders to make renewable energy the dominant energy technology. It is a remarkable and inspiring event that is already paying dividends to society." The opening ceremony is scheduled for September 22 at 10 am in the National Mall's West PotomacPark in Washington, D.C., with the competition set to begin the following day. From September 23 to October 2, the public is invited to tour the houses for free. The first Solar Decathlon was held in 2002, and competitions now take place every other year. ABOUT EMPOWER SOLAR EmPower Solar is a leading solar engineering and installation company serving residential and commercial markets in New York. Since 2003, EmPower has installed over 350 residential, commercial and non-profit solar power systems in the Tri-State Area. Additionally, EmPower has consulted on many clean energy projects throughout the country, including solar powered hydrogen fueling systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. EmPower is committed to the EmPowering Way operating philosophy, defined by the highest quality work and professionalism. More information about EmPower can be found online at: http://www.empower-solar.com.