Powered by a team of 100 — and about 8.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year — the Vesuvius plant in Charleston, Illinois produces ceramic materials used in the continuous casting process, which transforms molten metal into steel. After examining plant processes for a week, the Ameren Illinois Process Energy Advisor identified a variety of recommended energy-saving measures and nearly $30,000 in incentives to help complete the upgrades.