EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

Exhibit 10.1

EXECUTION COPY

EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

          This Agreement (“Agreement”) is between the Executive named above (“Executive”), on the one hand, and Orion Energy Systems, Inc. (“Orion” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”), on the other.

           WHEREAS , the Executive is employed by Orion in a key employee capacity and the Executive’s services are valuable to the conduct of the business of the Company; and

           WHEREAS , Orion and Executive desire to specify the terms and conditions on which Executive will continue employment on and after the date the Company’s common stock is first sold to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “IPO”), and under which Executive will receive severance in the event that Executive separates from service with the Company;

           NOW, THEREFORE , for good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

          1. Effective Date; Term . This Agreement shall become effective on the date of the Company’s IPO and continue until the end of the initial term set forth above. Thereafter, the Agreement shall renew automatically for successive renewal periods as set forth above unless and until either party provides written notice to the other party of the intent not to renew the Agreement at least ninety (90) days prior to the end of any term. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Change of Control occurs prior to the end of any term, the Agreement shall be automatically extended for the post- Change of Control renewal period set forth above beginning on the date of the Change of Control. Expiration of this Agreement will not affect the rights or obligations of the parties hereunder arising out of, or relating to, circumstances occurring prior to the expiration of this Agreement, which rights and obligations will survive the expiration of this Agreement.

          2. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them:

     (a) “ Accrued Benefits ” shall mean the following amounts, payable as described herein: (i) all base salary for the time period ending with the Termination Date;

(ii) reimbursement for any and all monies advanced in connection with the Executive’s employment for reasonable and necessary expenses incurred by the Executive on behalf of the Company for the time period ending with the Termination Date; (iii) any and all other cash earned through the Termination Date and deferred at the election of the Executive or pursuant to any deferred compensation plan then in effect; and (iv) all other payments and benefits to which the Executive (or in the event of the Executive’s death, the Executive’s surviving spouse or other beneficiary), including those provided pursuant to Exhibit A, is entitled on the Termination Date under the terms of any benefit plan of the Company, excluding severance payments under any Company severance policy, practice or agreement in effect on the Termination Date. Payment of Accrued Benefits shall be made promptly in accordance with the Company’s prevailing practice with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) or, with respect to clauses (iii) and (iv), pursuant to the terms of the benefit plan or practice establishing such benefits.

     (b) “ Base Salary ” shall mean the Executive’s annual base salary with the Company as in effect from time to time.

     (c) “ Board ” shall mean the board of directors of Orion or a committee of such Board authorized to act on its behalf in certain circumstances, including the Compensation Committee of the Board.

     (d) “ Cause ” shall mean a good faith finding by the Board that Executive has (i) failed, neglected, or refused to perform the lawful employment duties related to his or her position or as from time to time assigned to him (other than due to Disability); (ii) committed any willful, intentional, or grossly negligent act having the effect of materially injuring the interest, business, or reputation of the Company; (iii) violated or failed to comply in any material respect with the Company’s published rules, regulations, or policies, as in effect or amended from time to time; (iv) committed an act constituting a felony or misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, fraud, theft, or dishonesty; (v) misappropriated or embezzled any property of the Company (whether or not an act constituting a felony or misdemeanor); or (vi) breached any material provision of this Agreement or any other applicable confidentiality, non-compete, non-solicit, general release, covenant not-to-sue, or other agreement with the Company.

     (e) “ Change of Control ” shall mean and be limited to any of the following:

     (i) any Person (other than (A) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (D) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock in the Company (“Excluded Persons”)) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates after the IPO Date, pursuant to express authorization by the Board that refers to this exception) representing twenty percent (20%) or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

     (ii) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of directors of the Company then serving: (A) individuals who, on the IPO Date, constituted the Board and (B) any new director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company, as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 of Regulation 14A under the Act) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors on the IPO Date, or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved (collectively the “Continuing Directors”); provided, however, that individuals who are appointed to the Board pursuant to or in accordance with the terms of an agreement relating to a merger, consolidation, or share exchange involving the Company (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company) shall not be Continuing Directors for purposes of this Agreement until after such individuals are first nominated for election by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the then Continuing Directors and are thereafter elected as directors by the shareholders of the Company at a meeting of shareholders held following consummation of such merger, consolidation, or share exchange; and, provided further, that in the event the failure of any such persons appointed to the Board to be Continuing Directors results in a Change of Control, the subsequent qualification of such persons as Continuing Directors shall not alter the fact that a Change of Control occurred; or

     (iii) the consummation of a merger, consolidation or share exchange of the Company with any other corporation or the issuance of voting securities of the Company in connection with a merger, consolidation or share exchange of the Company (or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company), in each case, which requires approval of the shareholders of the Company, other than (A) a merger, consolidation or share exchange which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or share exchange continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any parent thereof) at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation or share exchange, or (B) a merger, consolidation or share exchange effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no Person (other than an Excluded Person) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates after the IPO Date, pursuant to express authorization by the Board that refers to this exception) representing twenty percent (20%) or more of either the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities; or

     (iv) the consummation of a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets (in one transaction or a series of related transactions within any period of 24 consecutive months), in each case, which requires

approval of the shareholders of the Company, other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are owned by Persons in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if there is consummated any transaction or series of integrated transactions immediately following which the record holders of the common stock of the Company immediately prior to such transaction or series of transactions continue to own, directly or indirectly, in the same proportions as their ownership in the Company, an entity that owns all or substantially all of the assets or voting securities of the Company immediately following such transaction or series of transactions.

For purposes of this Section 2(e):

     (i) the term “Person” shall mean any individual, firm, partnership, corporation or other entity, including any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity, or a group of any of the foregoing acting in concert;

     (ii) the terms “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Act;

     (iii) the term “Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

     (iv) a Person shall be deemed to be the “Beneficial Owner” of any securities which:

a) such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase;

b) such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates, directly or indirectly, has the right to vote or dispose of or has “beneficial ownership” of (as determined pursuant to Rule l3d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Act), including pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to beneficially own, any security under this clause b)  as a result of an agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding: (A) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations

under the Act and (B) is not also then reportable on a Schedule l3D under the Act (or any comparable or successor report); or

c) are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Person with which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except pursuant to a revocable proxy as described in clause b) above) or disposing of any voting securities of the Company.

     (f) “COBRA” shall mean the provisions of Code Section 4980B.

     (g) “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as interpreted by rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto, all as amended and in effect from time to time. Any reference to a specific provision of the Code shall be deemed to include reference to any successor provision thereto.

     (h) “Competitive Business Activity” shall mean the design and manufacture of lighting systems and controls for industrial, commercial and agricultural facilities.

     (i) “ Disability ” shall mean, subject to applicable law, a total and permanent disability consisting of a mental or physical disability which precludes the disabled Executive from performing the material and substantial duties of his employment. Payment of benefits for total disability under a disability insurance policy shall be conclusive as to the existence of total disability, although such payments are not required in order to establish total disability for purposes of this Agreement. The Executive has a “total and permanent disability” if he is precluded by mental or physical disability for 180 days during any twelve (12) month period. For purposes of this Agreement, an Executive shall be deemed totally and permanently disabled at the end of such 180th day. In case of a disagreement as to whether an Executive is totally and permanently disabled and, at the request of any party, the matter shall be submitted to arbitration as provided for herein, and judgment upon the award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Any costs of such proceedings (including the reasonable legal fees of the prevailing party) shall be borne by the non-prevailing party to such arbitration.

     (j) “General Release” shall mean a release of all claims that Executive, and anyone who may succeed to any claims of Executive, has or may have against Orion, its board of directors, any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or any of their employees, directors, officers, employees, agents, plan sponsors, administrators, successors (including the Successor), fiduciaries, or attorneys, including but not limited to claims arising out of Executive’s employment with, and termination of employment from, the Company, but excluding claims for (i) severance payments and benefits due pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) any salary, bonus, equity, accrued vacation, expense reimbursement and other ordinary payments or benefits earned or otherwise due with respect to the period prior to the date of any Separation from Service. The General Release shall be in a form that is reasonably acceptable to the Company or the Board.

     (k) “ Good Reason ” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following without the consent of Executive: (i) a material diminution in the Executive’s Base Salary; (ii) a material diminution in the Executive’s authority, duties or responsibilities; (iii) a material diminution in the authority, duties or responsibilities of Neal Verfuerth;

(iv) a material diminution in the budget over which the Executive retains authority; (v) a material change in the geographic location at which the Executive must perform services; or (vi) a material breach by Orion of any provisions of this Agreement or any option agreement with the Company to which the Executive is a party.

     (l) “ Separation from Service ” shall mean Executive’s termination of employment from Orion and each entity that is required to be included in Orion’s controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Code Section 414(b), or that is under common control with Orion within the meaning of Code Section 414(c); provided that the phrase “at least 50 percent” shall be used in place of the phrase “ at least 80 percent” each place it appears therein or in the regulations thereunder (collectively, “409A affiliates”). Notwithstanding the foregoing:

     (i) If Executive takes a leave of absence for purposes of military leave, sick leave or other bona fide leave of absence, Executive will not be deemed to have incurred a Separation from Service for the first six (6) months of the leave of absence, or if longer, for so long as Executive’s right to reemployment is provided either by statute or by contract.

     (ii) Subject to paragraph (i), Executive shall incur a Separation from Service when the level of bona fide services provided by Executive to Orion and its 409A affiliates permanently decreases to a level of twenty percent (20%) or less of the level of services rendered by Executive, on average, during the immediately preceding 12 months of employment.

     (iii) If, following Executive’s termination of employment, Executive continues to provide services to the Company or a 409A Affiliate in a capacity other than as an employee, Executive will not be deemed to have Separated from Service as long as Executive is providing bona fide services at a rate that is greater than twenty percent (20%) of the level of services rendered by Executive, on average, during the immediately preceding 12 months of service.

     (m) “Severance Payment” shall mean the Executive’s Base Salary at the time of the Termination Date plus the average of the annual bonuses earned by the Executive with respect to each of the three completed fiscal years of the Company preceding the year in which the Termination Date occurs (or such lesser number of fiscal years for which the Executive was employed by the Company, with any partial year’s bonus being annualized with respect to such fiscal year) multiplied by the severance multiplier set forth above ; provided that if Executive’s Termination Date occurs on or following a Change of Control, the multiplier described above shall be increased to the post-Change of Control severance multiplier set forth above and any reduction in Executive’s Base Salary since the date of the Change of Control shall be ignored.

     (n) “Successor” shall mean the person to which this Agreement is assigned upon a Sale of Business within the meaning of Section 10.

     (o) “ Termination Date ” shall mean the date of the Executive’s termination of employment from the Company, as further described in Section 4.

     3. Employment of Executive

     (a) Position.

     (i) Executive shall serve in the position set forth above in a full-time capacity. In such position, Executive shall have such duties and authority as is customarily associated with such position and shall have such other titles and duties, consistent with Executive’s position, as may be assigned from time to time by the Board.

     (ii) Executive will devote Executive’s full business time and best efforts to the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder and will not engage in any other business, profession or occupation for compensation or otherwise which would conflict or interfere with the rendition of such services either directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of the Board; provided that nothing herein shall preclude Executive, subject to the prior approval of the Board, from accepting appointment to or continue to serve on any board of directors or trustees of any business organization or any charitable organization; further provided in each case, and in the aggregate, that such activities do not conflict or interfere with the performance of Executive’s duties hereunder or conflict wit