Airtricity has presented over €120,000 in community funding to 37 community groups in the vicinity of its Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt wind farms. The presentation brings total Airtricity community investment in Counties Cavan and Monaghan since 2006 to over €735,000.
Under its Community Fund Programme, Airtricity annually makes a financial contribution from each of its 23 wind farms owned and operated nationwide by SSE, the country’s largest renewable energy generator.
This year, groups in Counties Cavan and Monaghan being supported by Airtricity’s 2013 Community Fund include, among others Bailieborough Swimming & Leisure Centre, Kill Community Development Group, St. Felim's National School, Drumgoon Community Centre Co-op Society and St. Oliver Plunkett’s National School.
The €120,000 Community Fund presentation is one of the largest annual payments made by Airtricity to communities around its wind farms nationwide. It brings the total funding made by Airtricity through its community funds in Counties Cavan and Monaghan to over €735,000 since 2006, when the company commissioned its first wind farm in Gartnaneane.
Anne Reynolds, Airtricity Community Development Officer, comments:
“We’re delighted that Airtricity and SSE are presenting €120,000 in funding from our County Cavan and County Monaghan Wind Farm Community Funds for such a wide variety of forward-thinking and innovative local projects.
“This annual local investment will continue to grow and is in line with our commitment towards making energy better in the regions in which we build and operate our wind farms. By helping communities to make major strides to reduce their fuel consumption, their energy costs and their carbon footprint year-on-year we can all live in greener and more sustainable communities.”
MaryMcConnell, Manager Bailieborough Swimming & Leisure Centre Manager said:
“The leisure centre has benefitted greatly from Airtricity’s support this year. The €12,000 we have received will go towards installing new energy efficient lighting throughout the community sports facility, helping us to reduce the current high energy costs of the hall.”
Tommy O’Reilly, Chairperson, Kill Community Development Group;
“Everyone involved with the Kill Community Development Group is delighted with the funding we’ve received through Airtricity’s Community Fund. The financial support will allow us to upgrade the hall’s lighting system by installing a state-of-the-art energy efficient lighting system, meaning a much more efficient and sustainable community hall for all our users.”
Owen Daly, Board of Management at St Oliver Plunkett’s National School;
“Airtricity’s Community Funding will be put to great use and make big improvements to one of Castleblaney’s local schools. The funding is being used to replace windows and doors in the old school building and through these measures we aim to cut heat loss, reduce our energy bills and most importantly create a warmer environment in which our children can learn.”