The Central Illinois Foodbank is going greener.
Construction will soon begin on a new geothermal heating and cooling system, which should be up and running by early next Spring. Foodbank board president CJ Saladino says the $850,000 project is funded largely through a U.S. EPA grant.
“We took advantage of that fact that there was money available,” says Saladino, who also manages Kincaid Generation’s coal-fired power plant. “My association with the Foodbank made that easy to say ‘hey, we’ve got an idea here.'”
Saladino estimates the foodbank will cut utility costs by up to 30 percent once the system is up and running. He says $100,000 is still needed to cover the full cost; he’s hoping donors will step forward and help.