KAUKAUNA, Wis. (WFRV) – One of the Fox Valley’s oldest manufacturers is being recognized for cutting-edge energy efficiency.
Ahlstrom Thilmany Mill in Kaukauna has been awarded the 2025 Energy Efficiency Excellence Award by Focus on Energy and Kaukauna Utilities. The honor is given to businesses across Wisconsin that significantly reduce energy use while improving operations, and Thilmany’s impact is massive.
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Through more than a decade of strategic upgrades — including lighting replacements, heat recovery systems, and variable speed drives — the historic paper mill has saved enough energy to heat 3,000 homes and power more than 1,700 annually.
“They have done a fantastic job at the Thilmany Mill,” said Erin Soman, Managing Director at Focus on Energy. “They’ve taken on projects that improve operations and save money on utility bills so they can invest in other parts of the business.”
For Richard Petersen, Ahlstrom’s Maintenance and Engineering Manager, the recognition is the result of years of hard work.
“It’s something we’ve worked on for a very long time,” Petersen said. “Getting some recognition for that is pretty nice.”
Petersen says the energy-saving initiative started out of necessity during the 2008–2009 recession as a way to cut costs. But over time, it became a driving force behind the company’s sustainability efforts, benefiting not just their bottom line, but also the local grid and environment.
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“The Thilmany Mill is an example of how a legacy facility like this that’s been around for more than 100 years can invest in energy efficiency,” Soman said.
Officials from Focus on Energy, Kaukauna Utilities, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and city leaders gathered at the mill Wednesday to celebrate the achievement.
