The heat is on - With the help of a $50,000 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Morris Library's McLafferty Annex storage facility features one of the largest geothermal energy projects in the state. The 130-ton system has provided heating and cooling throughout the 50,000-square-foot facility for about four months, and is expected to save SIUC at least $21,000 annually in energy costs, said SIUC Plant and Service Operations Director Philip S. Gatton. The project is the cornerstone of about 20 in Illinois that involve public and non-profit facilities served by Illinois' electric cooperatives, according to John Freitag of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives. On hand Tuesday, Nov. 22, for the grant presentation were (from left) Gatton, Freitag, Samantha Mattone of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, Mark Stallons, general manager with Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association, and the Rev. Paul Hicks, Egyptian Electric board president.

-- Photo by Russell Bailey, Media & Communication Resources