GEN light - 96

The red GEN warning light just went on in my 1996 cherokee. I was hoping someone would be able to tell me what this means and what I should do about it. The jeep's also been making an unpleasant noise when i accelerate. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Have you checked your serp belt to make sure it's still doing its job? Bad gen and a noise, sounds like belt to me... What does the noise sound like?