Echelon Corporation today issued a press release announcing that M. Kenneth Oshman, Echelon's Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, has been diagnosed with lung cancer and has therefore resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Oshman will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board.

Echelon also announced the appointment, effective as of November 5, 2009, of Robert R. Maxfield, a current member of Echelon's board of directors, as Chief Executive Officer and President, while Echelon launches a search for a new CEO. Mr. Maxfield has been a director of Echelon since 1989. Mr. Maxfield was a co-founder of ROLM in 1969, and served as Executive Vice President and a director until ROLM's merger with IBM in 1984. Following the merger, he continued to serve as Vice President of ROLM until 1988. Since 1988, he has been a private investor. Mr. Maxfield was a venture partner with Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers, a venture capital firm, from 1989 to 1992. Mr. Maxfield received B.A. and B.S.E.E. degrees from Rice University, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

Mr. Maxfield's compensation package will consist of the following:

(a) An annual salary of $500,000.

(b) The grant of performance shares under Echelon's 1997 Stock Plan, with a value of $500,000 as of the date of grant (which date will be November 10, 2009, Echelon's next regularly scheduled monthly date of the issuance of equity compensation awards). The performance shares will vest monthly, 1/12 per month, so long as Mr. Maxfield remains Chief Executive Officer or an employee of Echelon; provided that if a replacement Chief Executive Officer commences employment and Mr. Maxfield ceases to remain an Echelon employee within six months following the date of grant, then a minimum of six months vesting, or 50% of the shares, will automatically vest. For example, if a replacement Chief Executive Officer commences employment and Mr. Maxfield ceases to remain an Echelon employee during month four, then Mr. Maxfield would be entitled to 50% (six months out of twelve) of the shares. If a replacement Chief Executive Officer commences employment and Mr. Maxfield ceases to remain an Echelon employee during month nine, then Mr. Maxfield would be entitled to 66-2/3% (eight months out of twelve) of the shares. In the event of a corporate acquisition of Echelon, or the sale of substantially all of the assets of Echelon prior to full vesting, Mr. Maxfield would be entitled to all of the shares.

(c) Echelon's Board of Directors may consider a discretionary bonus depending on the circumstances.

(d) Aircraft reimbursement: Echelon will reimburse Mr. Maxfield for 50% of the costs incurred by Mr. Maxfield for his charter aircraft travel on Echelon business. Alternatively, if Mr. Maxfield uses his private plane on Echelon business, Echelon will reimburse Mr. Maxfield for the cost of first class commercial air travel services for himself and Echelon employees who accompany him. Echelon's Audit Committee will review this arrangement from time to time.

(d) Exhibits

     Exhibit
     Number    Description

      99.1     Press Release dated November 4, 2009, of Echelon Corporation.