GridPoint

GridPoint Showcases Award-winning Intelligent Energy Management Product, An Advanced Renewable Energy Integration Platform, at Solar Power 2006

GridPoint Connect Expands Solar Market, Reduces Installation Time, and Improves Customer Service

WASHINGTON - Oct. 16, 2006 - GridPoint, Inc., a provider of intelligent energy management (IEM) products, announced that it is participating in Solar Power 2006, the largest business-to-business solar conference and expo in the United States, opening today at the San Jose Convention Center. GridPoint will showcase the award-winning GridPoint Connect, a "plug-and-play" advanced "balance of system" that integrates renewable energy and provides online energy management and clean, battery-based backup power.

In addition to featuring GridPoint Connect at its booth, #607 and -#608, the company will conduct a dealer training session about the product's benefits, which include simplifying solar integration and reducing installation time from two days to two hours. GridPoint Connect also facilitates the transmission of excess renewable energy into the power grid and offers consumers protection from power outages as well as online energy management.

"GridPoint's energy management products are broadening the market for solar energy," said Peter L. Corsell, President and CEO of GridPoint. "Customers who initially come to GridPoint for advanced energy management learn about the benefits of adopting solar power. Our total solution for online energy management, renewable energy, and clean backup power appeals to a mainstream audience and helps fuel the mass adoption of renewable energy."

GridPoint's product training session for solar dealers will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday in Almaden I to explain how its IEM products increase the value of solar energy. The session will comprise a technical overview, sales process and product support. For more information, please contact Allison Archambault, GridPoint Dealer Manager, at allison@gridpoint.com or 202-580-5124.

Ms. Archambault will be a featured panelist in "Beyond the Watt - New Methods of Value Creation in PV," a session that looks at innovators throughout the photovoltaic (PV) value chain who have leveraged a unique capability, new sales channel, or value-added feature to enhance their offerings. She will present "Intelligent energy management: Beyond the balance of system." Moderated by Scott Sklar of the Stella Group, the panel session will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in meeting room J1.

Doug Danley, GridPoint Director of Research and Development, will also participate in the panel session "Solar for Emergency Preparedness and Security" to discuss how solar-enabled critical power can protect against potential threats. Moderated by Irene Shillings of the San Diego Regional Energy Office, the panel session will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Santa Clara Room of the Hilton.

GridPoint Connect has been awarded Green Builder Magazine's 2006 Most Innovative Product and was featured in Los Angeles Magazine's DesignHouse 2005: The Green Home. The product has been selected as the renewable energy management system in three LEED for Homes pilot projects: LivingHomes' Platinum model, the first residential project in the country to attain the highest rating from the U.S. Green Building Council; BASF Better Home, Better Planet Initiative: Near Zero Energy House in Paterson, N.J., and Ultimate Home Design magazine's Optimum Performance Home in Sonoma County, Calif.

For more about Solar Power 2006, please visit http://www.solarpowerconference.com/

About GridPoint

GridPoint's intelligent energy management (IEM) products ensure clean, reliable backup power, increase energy efficiency, and integrate renewable energy. A partner in the ENERGY STAR program, GridPoint helps home and business owners automatically protect themselves from power outages, manage their energy online and reduce their carbon footprint. GridPoint products also provide a superior set of integrated demand response, energy conservation, and load shaping solutions to utilities, which lower the cost of supplying electricity, reduce consumption, and increase the reliability of the electric grid.

On the Net: www.gridpoint.com

About Goldman Sachs

Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm which provides a wide range of services worldwide to a substantial and diversified client base, which includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high net worth individuals. Founded in 1869, it is one of the oldest and largest investment banking firms. The firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in London, Frankfurt, Tokyo, Hong Kong and other major financial centers around the world.

About Cogentrix

Cogentrix Energy, Inc. is a leading independent power producer and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Goldman Sachs. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Cogentrix owns and operates twenty electric generating facilities in North America. These plants utilize both proven and emerging technologies, as well as innovative management and operational procedures, to serve the electric energy supply needs of utilities and industrial customers.

Contact Information

Suzanne Lauer
703.862.3137 or slauer@gridpoint.com