ANAHEIM, Calif., Apr 20, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Willdan Group, Inc. ("Willdan") (NASDAQ: WLDN) today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Willdan Energy Solutions ("WES"), was awarded a $7.9 million energy efficiency contract by Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. ("O&R") to implement its new energy efficiency program for small business customers.

Pearl River, NY-based O&R is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: ED). This contract represents new, incremental WES business and builds upon the Company's success with a similar $67 million Consolidated Edison Company of NY contract awarded WES in 2009. Most of the O&R contract work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2011.

"The O&R Small Business Direct Installation Program complements our other projects in the State of New York nicely," explains WES President, Jay Bhalla. "WES is proud to be leveraging our expertise in the New York marketplace in support of O&R's ambitious energy efficiency program. I expect other utilities throughout the country will follow O&R's leadership in this regard, implementing similar programs for which WES is well positioned to compete for."

The program is one of several designed by O&R to help the State of New York achieve its energy reduction goals. The program offers New York small business customers free energy efficiency surveys, pays 70% of the installed cost for energy-saving measures and pays 100% of the cost of equipment such as compact fluorescent lamps, water faucet aerators, and high-pressure rinse valves. As the program implementation contractor, WES's responsibilities will include marketing, community outreach and partnering with the community and local business organizations, as well as on-site energy efficiency surveys and energy-saving facility retrofit projects in thousands of businesses throughout the Rockland, Orange and Sullivan counties in the State of New York.

About Willdan Energy Solutions

WES is one of the nation's preeminent providers of specialized energy, water, and resource management services to a growing list of clients that includes utilities, local and federal governments, hospitals, schools, and private enterprises. WES's portfolio of services includes marketing and engineering, program management and implementation of energy efficiency and water conservation programs, and development and implementation of information systems for the energy industry. WES's expertise also covers hardware retrofits, commissioning and retro-commissioning, demonstrations of new technologies, energy efficiency education/outreach, sustainability strategy, and local government partnerships.

About Willdan Group, Inc.

Founded over 40 years ago, Willdan is a provider of outsourced services to public and private agencies and utilities located primarily in California and New York. Willdan assists cities, public utilities and other government agencies and, to a lesser extent, private industry with a broad range of services, including civil engineering, building and safety services, geotechnical engineering, energy efficiency, water conservation, renewable resource strategy, financial and economic consulting, and disaster preparedness and homeland security. For additional information, visit Willdan's website at www.willdan.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement: Statements in this press release which are not purely historical, including statements regarding Willdan's intentions, hopes, beliefs, expectations, representations, projections, estimates, plans or predictions of the future are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the risk that Willdan will not be able to expand its services or meet the needs of customers in markets in which it operates. It is important to note that Willdan's actual results could differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, a slowdown in the local and regional economies of the states where Willdan conducts business and the loss of or inability to hire additional qualified professionals. Willdan's business could be affected by a number of other factors, including the risk factors listed from time to time in Willdan's SEC reports including, but not limited to, the Form 10-K annual report for the year ended January 1, 2010 filed on March 30, 2010. Willdan cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Willdan disclaims any obligation to, and does not undertake to, update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release.

SOURCE: Willdan Group, Inc.

Willdan Group, Inc.
Kimberly Gant
Chief Financial Officer
Tel: 714-940-6329
kgant@willdan.com
or
Financial Profiles, Inc.
Moira Conlon
Tel: 310-478-2700
mconlon@finprofiles.com
or
Orange & Rockland Utilities, Inc.
Michael Donovan
Tel: 845-577-2430
donovanm@oru.com

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