Lime Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LIME) is proud to support Green Education, Inc.’s new urban sustainability project in Wilmington, California. Lime Energy employees volunteered to help transform an abandoned, overgrown lot in the City of Wilmington into a sustainable urban farm that will serve as both an educational training center and a food source for the local homeless population and neighborhood businesses.

This project began when Green Education, Inc., a non-profit with locations in Wilmington and Long Beach, decided to pilot an internship to introduce young adults to the numerous sustainability-related jobs and professions growing exponentially in the state. The students receive hands-on work experience in solar installations, native landscaping, urban farming, energy efficiency improvements, tree planting and other related training activities that will demonstrate the breadth of green professions.

As a result of the internship being piloted, the local Los Angeles City Council office took note and asked Green Education, Inc., to help clean up an empty lot that had become a neighborhood eyesore. The nonprofit accepted the opportunity with plans to use the land as a learning place for the Green WORKS! Internship program.

After years of neglect, clearing the land and preparing it for farming was a daunting task. So, ten Lime Energy employees grabbed their shovels and spent two days cleaning up the site and spreading mulch. Working for a national energy efficiency company, the group fully understands the need for green education and practices. “Every day, Lime Energy employees help dozens of small businesses and communities across the country reduce their impact on the environment,” explains Tony Coonce, Lime Energy’s AVP of Southern California. “This is our job and this project is just one more way for us to support environmental sustainability and economic growth in the communities where we both live and work.”

Stella Ursua, President of Green Education, Inc. says the hours spent by the volunteers cut days off the clearing project. “We couldn’t have done this as quickly without the help of the Lime Energy team,” said Ursua. “They came in, got to work and got the job done. Now we can start our farming education right away.” Ursua says this program’s impact goes well beyond the Green WORKS! Internship. The produce grown on site will be offered to local restaurants and a nearby homeless shelter.

Councilmember Joe Buscaino, CD 15 City of Los Angeles, recognized the efforts to make the lot a sustainable learning place. "It is with great excitement that we welcome Green Education to the community of Wilmington. The organization has brought a series of educational workshops and hands-on opportunities to the youth and residents of our communities,” said Buscaino. “I am confident that the skills they learn through this experience will encourage them to pursue careers that positively shape their lives while improving the conditions of our environment. This City-owned lot is no longer an eye sore, it has brought opportunities and will soon bring healthy choices to the local community."

Green Education, Inc. is a member of a citywide coalition of community groups that advocate for expanded energy efficiency in the Los Angeles area. That organization, RePower LA, is recognizing both organizations for their efforts on this project. "We applaud the efforts of our partners, Green Education and Lime Energy, to connect underserved Wilmington community residents and the environment," said Jessica Goodheart, Director of the Repower LA Project at the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE). "This project is going to have a huge impact in this community in creating more sustainable spaces, as well as job opportunities."

In addition to helping with this project, Lime Energy employees also volunteered at numerous other non-profit organizations in the Los Angeles area during the month of February. Lime Energy plans to continue their partnership with Green Education, Inc. and other non-profit organizations across the nation, in support of the company’s growing corporate social responsibility initiatives.

About Lime Energy Co.

Lime Energy is building a new energy future. As a leading national provider of energy efficiency for small business customers, Lime designs and implements direct install programs for our utility clients which consistently exceed program savings goals. Our award-winning, integrated services programs provide utilities with reliable energy efficiency resources while delivering the highest levels of customer satisfaction. This next generation approach is helping utilities across the country to go deeper and broader with the cheapest, cleanest and fastest energy resource that we have - energy efficiency.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 including statements that reflect Lime Energy’s current expectations about its future results, performance, prospects and opportunities. Lime Energy has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words and phrases such as “may,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plan,” “should,” “typical,” “preliminary,” “hope,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Lime Energy and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause Lime Energy’s actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities in the remainder of 2016 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in Lime Energy’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or as may be described from time to time in Lime Energy’s subsequent SEC filings; such factors are incorporated herein by reference.