After a short delay, testing work is scheduled to begin at Warner Field for the project's geothermal system. Residents may notice some activity and noise in the area during the week of May 11-15. 

An important component of the schematic design phase is to determine the type of heating and cooling systems that will be used for the new building. The design team is exploring the feasibility of a geothermal system, which both heats and cools the building using a number of underground wells. Geothermal systems are attractive because they utilize a sustainable source of energy, and tend to be both lower maintenance and more energy efficient than other systems. 

The use of this system and location of the wells will affect the cost of the project, so it is important to study the feasibility prior to the next round of cost estimates. The first step is to drill one test well to confirm that the location will be able to support a geothermal system.

The drilling for the test well is expected to begin on Monday, May 11, and should take two or three days. The well will be located outside of the field area (see map below) and will be fenced off. Drilling will take place from 7:00am to 2:30pm, prior to the start of any scheduled baseball games at Warner field. The testing will be completed around May 25, at which time the well will be capped and marked, and then the fencing will be removed.