Jeff Cooley is knocking on wood.

He is hoping the steam plant, which heats and cools campus, can survive another winter.

Heating costs during this winter increased by $125,000 after parts of the coal boilers in the steam plant broke for several months.

“We had to find someone to come in to make the parts to get it fixed,” said Cooley, vice president for business affairs. “As a consequence, we had to burn natural gas this winter.”

Cooley said the university typically burns coal to heat the campus because it is a cheaper fuel source.

The university is waiting for the state government in Springfield to pass some form of a capital projects bill that would contain about $30 million set aside for Eastern to build a new $60 million co-generation power plant that would allow the university to produce its own electricity.

The university does not know how long the current steam plant, which Cooley said is running on 1928 technology, can last.

Gary Reed, director of facilities planning and management, said the repairs to the coal boilers were completed in early winter, which allowed the university to use less natural gas to heat the campus.

Steam plant fuel costs for a typical winter with the coal units operating is about $575,000, which increased by $125,000 this winter, Reed said.

The steam plant also only serves the main campus. The steam plant does not serve Greek Court, Carman Hall, University Court and University Apartments.

Reed also said the newest coal boiler in the steam plant was built in 1958.

“The plant is worn out,” Reed said. “We need to give credit to our EIU plant operating personnel for keeping the legacy equipment running as good as it has. Going forward, there is no way to predict when the next failure might occur.”

In the capital projects section of his budget recommendation, Gov. Rod Blagojevich set aside $30 million for Eastern’s project to build the co-generation plant.

Cooley said every legislator in Springfield agree Illinois needs a capital bill for infrastructure around the state, but added that the issue appears to be about how to fund that capital bill.

“That was the debate in the last session, and I think it will be again this year,” he said.

Cooley said it is critical that a capital bill is passed sooner rather than later.

If the university hypothetically started construction today, it would take at least three years before the new power plant would be ready for use, he added.

Reed shares the same sentiments as Cooley about the urgency of a capital bill.

“The costs to repair the coal plant will continue to increase, and breakdowns will likely become more frequent as the facility continues to age,” Reed said. “Steam supply to campus is critical to operations of the campus. Without the steam supply, the campus could not operate.”

Even when the university stops heating buildings, steam is still needed to heat water for showers, cooking food in the dining centers and food court, de-humidifying indoor air, and providing air conditioning, Reed said.

Cooley said the university hopes a capital bill will be passed and is watching the debate in Springfield about capital money closely.

He is hoping the coal boilers will not break down next winter.

“Knock on wood, we’ve got enough duct tape on them that they will make it through the winter,” Cooley said.

Stephen Di Benedetto can be reached at 581-7942 or at sdibenedetto@eiu.edu.