CALMAC Supports Proposed Thermal Energy Cooling and Heating Act of 2009

If Approved, Bill Would Give 30 Percent Tax Credit for Installation of Thermal
Energy Storage Systems
FAIR LAWN, N.J.--(Business Wire)--
CALMAC, a leader in energy storage systems, announced its support for the
Thermal Energy Cooling and Heating Act of 2009 (HR 3918), introduced by
Congressional representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Wally Herger (R-CA) and Earl
Pomeroy (D-ND). The proposed bill would give business owners a 30 percent tax
credit and accelerated depreciation for the installation of a thermal energy
storage system. This bill directly addresses the impact of daytime cooling, a
key factor in reducing overall energy consumption.

In the U.S., buildings use one third of the total energy consumed. Nearly 40
percent of a building's electricity use during peak hours is due to daytime
air-conditioning energy demand. Reducing peak electrical demand improves power
generation efficiencies, making more efficient use of existing resources. As a
result of utilizing existing resources more efficiently, thermal energy storage
reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

"In these economic times, incentives for energy storage and other low carbon
emitting technologies will help in our move towards a lower carbon world," said
Mark MacCracken, CALMAC CEO and USGBC Board Member. "Thermal cooling is the most
practical and least expensive of the all the energy storage types. Thermal
energy storage provides a return on investment by reducing peak demand which
lowers electric bills, but currently storage only represents one percent of the
air-conditioning market. Greater incentive is needed to integrate this simple
reliable solution and others like it into the marketplace."

Congress has already recognized that tax credits are needed to accelerate the
renewable energy technology and smart grid market forward. Renewable energy`s
availability is dependant upon wind and sunlight and so it is less reliable than
fossil fuel generation. Energy storage incentives will increase renewable energy
utilization and will further support the development of the smart grid along
with renewable energy sources while lowering our reliance of fossil fuels.
Building owners can use thermal energy storage as a load shifting response tool
and reduce peak demand in response to price signals with little if any impact on
building occupants.

MacCracken continues, "Let`s face it. Today`s utility infrastructure can barely
keep up with the increased demand for energy especially during peak demand
hours, typically in the middle of the day, and air-conditioning is the main
culprit. The "on-demand" system we use to meet our peak electric consumption
requirements over the last 60 years no longer meets our needs nor does it
enhance the use of renewable energy sources. In fact, with our current
infrastructure there is approximately twice as much electric capacity as we need
if only electricity could be evenly consumed throughout the day. Energy storage
can level electricity usage by shifting consumption for air-conditioning from
day to night so that ratepayers can avoid paying the cost of building new power
plants and avoid expensive peak electric demand charges while helping to make
renewable energy more viable."

About CALMAC

CALMAC Corporation is widely recognized for promoting peak energy conservation
and energy cost savings. An ENERGY STAR® Partner and USGBC member, CALMAC is a
leading manufacturer of IceBank® Energy Storage equipment with over 3,300 Ice
Storage installations worldwide. IceBank systems enable energy, including
renewable wind energy which mainly blows at night, to be efficiently stored for
use during periods of high demand.

Vantage Communications for CALMAC
Tory Klaubo Patrick, +1-202-558-9826
tpatrick@pr-vantage.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009