New CFO for Akeena Solar

Los Gatos, CA, based Akeena Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:AKNS), a leading designer and installer of solar power systems, announced that Gary R. Effren has accepted an offer to become the Company’s Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Effren, 51, had served as the Vice President/Finance of Knight-Ridder, Inc., a Fortune 500 media company, since January 2005. Prior to that, Mr. Effren served as Senior Vice President/Finance and Chief Financial Officer of Knight-Ridder from 2001 to 2004, and as Vice President/Controller of Knight-Ridder from 1995 to 2001. Akeena disclosed that the new CFO will have an initial salary equivalent to $250,000 per year, and will be eligible to participate in the Company’s bonus program (with target bonus of 50% of salary, dependent on Company performance), and health and other benefits programs. The Company’s Board of Directors approved the grant to Mr. Effren of a stock option to purchase 350,000 shares of common stock, vesting over three years in accordance with the Company’s 2006 Incentive Stock Plan and standard forms of agreement. The option exercise price is $6.30, which was the closing market price on the date of grant.