Konarka Technologies Inc. of Lowell, Mass., a developer of Power Plastic, a material that converts light to energy, has announced that Howard Berke, executive chairman and co-founder of Konarka, is the newest member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) board of directors.

Founded in 1974, SEIA is the leading national trade association for the solar energy industry, working to expand markets, strengthen research and development, remove market barriers, and improve education and outreach for solar energy professionals. Berke completed his four-year term as director at the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to advancing renewable energy, prior to the transition.