New North: Three New North companies receive energy funding

Contact: Joshua Morby

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Email: media@thenewnorth.com

Kohler Company, Thilmany Paper, Renewegy receive combined $3.3 million

NEW NORTH, December 10, 2009 – Three New North Companies – Kohler Company of Kohler, Thilmany Paper of Kaukauna, and Renewegy of Oshkosh – received a combined $3.3 million in energy funding through state and federal programs, Governor Doyle announced today.

Kohler and Thilmany Paper received approximately $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively, for energy efficiency projects from the US Department of Energy (DOE) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Kohler will replace more than 800 light fixtures with energy efficient ones and two steam powered hot water systems with more efficient natural gas equipment.

Thilmany Paper will install air to air heat exchangers to improve mill efficiency, a move that will reduce the use of fossil fuels and decrease CO2 emissions by 8,600 tons per year at the mill.

Renewegy, recently founded in 2008, manufactures products for the light commercial wind and high efficiency propulsion markets. The company will receive $525,000 in State Energy Program ARRA funds to purchase new manufacturing equipment. The funding is expected to create 40 clean energy jobs, pending final approval of the funding from the DOE.

“Fostering growth in the wind energy industry and encouraging sustainable practices are two key initiatives for the New North,” said Jerry Murphy, Executive Director of the New North, Inc. “These three forward-thinking companies are perfect examples of the innovation that can found throughout Northeast Wisconsin.”

New North, Inc. is a regional collaboration effort focused on promoting regional cooperation and economic development in an 18-county region in Northeast Wisconsin. The 18 counties included in the New North are Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Waupaca, Brown, Shawano, Oconto, Marinette, Door, Kewaunee, Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Marquette, Florence, Menominee, and Waushara. To find out more information about New North, Inc., please visit our website at http://www.thenewnorth.com.