-Guidebook provides resources and methods to reduce energy use and costs in pulp and paper mills-

MADISON, Wis., (June 23, 2005) - In recent years, the paper industry has seen significant changes. With multiple mergers and acquisitions and increased competition within the market, mills have been forced to reduce costs by downsizing and are now operating with fewer on-site staff. At the same time energy costs have continued to rise and energy is a major portion of a mill's business costs. In Wisconsin, industrial facilities consume about 35 percent of the electric energy used in the state, and the paper industry consumes a third of this energy.

To help CEO's and facility managers react to these challenges, Focus on Energy's Industrial Program, part of the state's energy efficiency and renewable energy initiative, recently developed a Pulp and Paper Energy Best Practice Guidebook. The guidebook highlights best practices or methods and procedures that are widely recognized as opportunities to improve a mill's performance and efficiency.

With the help of other Wisconsin companies such as Aue Energy Consulting, Benjamin A. Thorp, Inc., Center for Technology Transfer, Inc., D&S Design and Engineering and Science Applications International Corporation, Focus on Energy introduced this guidebook as a single resource that provides condensed, credentialed information on ways to reduce energy use and energy-related costs in mills. Using this guidebook, a mill manager will be able to benchmark their facility against a comparable low energy consuming facility and supply them with information to significantly reduce energy consumption in their mill.

The guidebook includes more than 50 energy saving best practices for the pulp and paper industry, indexed by type of processes that are available for mills to consider, which will result in money saving opportunities.

"Many mill managers and their staff don't have the time to investigate potential energy efficiency opportunities," said John Nicol, Focus on Energy's industrial program manager. "This is a great chance for Focus on Energy's Industrial Program to provide answers for the CEOs and facility managers especially in light of the recent rise in energy prices."

The technologies highlighted throughout the guidebook, such as dryer management systems and energy efficient repulper rotors, have been a successful tool for a variety of pulp and paper mills.

"Rising energy prices continue to be a concern for our company," said Lars Bengtsson, president of Stora Enso North America. "This guidebook provides several ideas that will help reduce our energy costs."

Nicol adds that the guidebook, "Is a working document that can be updated continually with new best practices and case studies provided by the Focus on Energy program." Focus on Energy plans guidebooks for other industries including food processing, plastics/chemicals, metal casting and water/wastewater.

For more information about how Focus on Energy can provide technical assistance and possible financial incentives to support the implementation of energy efficiency with other industries, call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com

Editor's Note - To request a copy of the Pulp and Paper Energy Best Practice Guidebook, contact Craig Schepp at 608.277.2948.

About Focus on Energy
Focus on Energy is a public-private partnership offering energy information and services to energy utility customers throughout Wisconsin. The goals of this program are to encourage energy efficiency and use of renewable energy, enhance the environment and ensure the future supply of energy for Wisconsin. Since July 2001, the program has helped Wisconsin's businesses and residents cut their utility bills by more than $74 million - reducing their energy consumption by more than 703 million kilowatt-hours and more than 32 million therms of natural gas. For more information, call 800.762.7077 or visit focusonenergy.com.

# # #