Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program provides nearly $400,000 in incentives to U.S. cheesemaker

Energy-saving incentives support Brewster Cheese’s commitment to a lower carbon future.

The Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program is recognizing Brewster Cheese, the largest producer of Swiss cheese in the U.S., for earning close to $400,000 in incentives to support the company’s Stockton, Illinois facility. These significant money and energy-saving improvements demonstrate the cheese manufacturer’s proactive approach to reducing production costs while contributing to a more sustainable future.

Since 2019, the family-owned business has worked with Nicor Gas to make major advancements in reducing its energy consumption, including the replacement and optimization of a whey solids production dryer that saved 400,000 therms annually, enough to provide energy to close to 300 homes for a year.

“With the expansion of their Illinois operations, we are proud to collaborate with Brewster Cheese to deliver efficiency solutions to help achieve their energy-saving goals,” said Mike King, director of Energy Efficiency Program Strategy and Solutions at Nicor Gas. “We have a shared clean energy goal to work towards a lower carbon future.”

Over the years, Brewster Cheese has worked with the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program to secure rebates to assist with steam trap replacements, compressed air heat recovery projects, boiler tune-ups and more, resulting in a combined savings of over 600,000 therms at its Illinois facility.

“Sustainability and longevity are at the forefront of Brewster Cheese as we actively look for opportunities to grow our business,” said Katsy Leeman, CEO and owner of Brewster Cheese. “These principles paired well with the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program, which identified equipment that would allow our operation to not only excel as a leader within the cheese and whey industries but also remain environmentally conscious.”

The Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program provides rebates, incentives, facility assessments and other energy-saving opportunities to support Brewster Cheese and other businesses within the service territory. To learn more, visit nicorgas.com/bizsavings.