Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ADA-ES COMMENCES PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK

LITTLETON, CO –October 24, 2011 – ADA-ES, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADES) (“ADA”) today announced its intention to offer, subject to market and other conditions, shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. The Company also expects to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase additional shares of common stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The offering is subject to market conditions, and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. The Company intends to use the proceeds from this offering for (i) designing, constructing and placing refined coal facilities into service, (ii) expanding to meet the demands resulting from the expected Maximum Achievable Control Technology regulations, (iii) for general working capital purposes, including for satisfying indemnity obligations and (iv) for general corporate purposes. The offering is expected to price before 9:30 am EDT on October 25, 2011.

Lazard Capital Markets LLC is acting as the sole book-running manager, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated is the co-lead manager and JMP Securities LLC is the co-manager of the offering.

The Company intends to offer and sell these securities pursuant to the Company’s existing shelf registration statement originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 28, 2011, as amended, which was declared effective on October 12, 2011. A prospectus supplement describing the terms of the offering will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and will form a part of the effective registration statement. When available, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplement, the final prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus related to this offering may be obtained from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov or Lazard Capital Markets LLC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 60th Floor, New York, NY 10020 or via telephone at (800) 542-0970 or Robert W. Baird, Attn: Syndicate Department, 555 California Street, Suite 4900, San Francisco, CA 94104 or via telephone at (415) 627-3270.

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This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of offers to buy any securities of ADA, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any security in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About ADA-ES

ADA-ES is a leader in clean coal technology and the associated specialty chemicals, serving the coal-fueled power plant industry. Our proprietary environmental technologies and specialty chemicals enable power plants to enhance existing air pollution control equipment, minimize mercury, CO₂ and other emissions, maximize capacity, and improve operating efficiencies, to meet the challenges of existing and pending emission control regulations.

With respect to mercury emissions:

In addition, we are developing CO₂ emissions technologies under projects funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) and industry participants.

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which provides a “safe harbor” for such statements in certain circumstances. The forward-looking statements include statements relating to ADA’s expectations regarding the completion of and the use of proceeds from the proposed public offering. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of our management. Such statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties related to whether or not ADA will be able to raise capital through the sale of shares of common stock, the final terms of the proposed offering, market and other conditions, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the proposed public offering and the impact of general economic, industry or political conditions in the United States or internationally and other factors we discuss in greater detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements and to consult our SEC filings for additional risks and uncertainties relating to the proposed offering, ADA, ownership of its securities and its business can be found in ADA’s other filings with the SEC, and in the preliminary prospectus supplement related to the proposed offering to be filed with the SEC on or about the date hereof. Our

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forward-looking statements are presented as of the date made, and we disclaim any duty to update such statements unless required by law to do so.

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