MORE THAN €283K NOW AWARDED BY SSE AIRTRICITY TO COMMUNITY GROUPS IN CO. WEXFORD

SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest generator of 100% green energy, has awarded more than €23,000 to community groups close to its Richfield Wind Farm in Co. Wexford.

Through its Community Fund programme, the company has been supporting local projects in Co. Wexford since 2007, and this latest presentation takes the total amount awarded to date in the county to over €283,000.

This year’s presentation took place at the Stella Maris Community Centre in Kilmore Quay on Friday 29 March, with 12 community groups receiving funding, including schools, sports clubs and community associations.

Most of the recipient groups will be putting this year’s contribution towards improving their energy efficiency measures, which SSE Airtricity strongly supports.

The funding will enable St. Fintan’s National School in Mayglass, Bridgetown, complete their lighting upgrade at the school.

School Principal, Bernadette Leahy said:

“It’s great to receive funding from SSE Airtricity again. Last year, we started an LED lighting upgrade which we’ll now be able to complete. The LED bulbs will really make a difference to our electricity bills and will also play a big part in helping us achieve the Green Flag for energy.”

This year’s Community Fund programme is also supporting energy-efficient lighting projects at Kilmore GAA Club, Scoil Réalt na Mara in Kilmore and Mulrankin Community Group.

Other initiatives include replacement doors for Kilmore GAA, Wexford Sub Aqua Club and St. Anne’s National School, to insulation in Rathangan Parish Hall, to equine horse training in therapy at Equine Connection in Duncormick, to installing gas heating at St. Anne’s GAA Club, to installing electrics and a water heater for Bridgetown Men’s Shed, and new energy efficient kitchen equipment for Kilmore Quay Community Development Association.

Anne Reynolds, SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, said:

“We’re delighted to be awarding funding to community projects close to our Richfield Wind Farm for the twelfth year running. At SSE Airtricity, we’re committed to bringing positive energy to the communities closest to our wind farms, and we’re proud to have contributed to local groups in Co. Wexford. It’s been great to see so many projects come to life over the years, particularly those involving improvements in energy efficiency, which can bring such lasting benefits to the community.”

SSE Airtricity’s Richfield Wind Farm has a total generation capacity of 27MW and produces enough renewable energy to power over 15,000 homes in the region.