SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest renewable energy provider, has handed out more than €130,000 to community groups close to its Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt Wind Farms in counties Cavan and Monaghan.
This year’s presentation took place at the Tullyvin Community Hall in Cootehill, Co. Cavan on Wednesday 20th July. A total of 48 community groups will benefit from the €130,650 fund, including schools, sports clubs and community centres.
Through its Community Fund programme, SSE Airtricity makes annual contributions to community groups in the vicinity of its wind farms. The company has been donating to local projects in Cavan and Monaghan since 2006, and this latest presentation takes its overall contribution in the counties to over €1.1 million.
Latton O’Rahilly GAA Club will be putting this year’s contribution towards upgrading their internal lighting. Development Plan Chairman, Paul Quinn, commented: “Upgrading the existing internal lighting to high-performance LED will result in lower energy running costs. This combined with the new water-heating system made possible by last year’s funding will considerably reduce our bills.”
Lavey Community Group will be using the funding to install additional solar panels at their community centre. The group is receiving funding from SSE Airtricity for the fourth consecutive year. Lavey Community Group Chairman,Aidan Denby, said: “SSE Airtricity’s Community Fund has helped the Lavey Community Centre become a more energy efficient building over the last few years, with funding going towards insulation, energy efficient lighting and solar panels.”
The majority of the recipient groups are putting this latest funding towards improving their energy efficiency measures, which SSE Airtricity strongly supports.Other projects being supported range from installing energy efficient lighting at Kill Shamrocks GAA in Co. Cavan, to fitting an air source heat pump system at Fingers and Toes Community Childcare in Latton, Co. Monaghan.
Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said: “We’re delighted to be awarding this year’s funding to 48 forward-thinking and deserving local groups. It’s great to see so much of the money going towards improvements in energy efficiency, which will help to reduce heating bills and ultimately lead to a greener and more sustainable environment for the whole community. We’ve now donated over €1.1 million to local projects in counties Cavan and Monaghan, in line with our continued commitment to the communities closest to our wind farms.”
SSE Airtricity’s three wind farms in counties Cavan and Monaghan have a total capacity of 70MW and produce enough renewable energy to power over 30,000 homes in the region.