SSE Airtricity has given almost €120,000 to 40 community groups within the vicinity of its Meentycat Wind Farm in Ireland.
The company has presented around €58,000 in top-up funding from the wind farm to walkers who raised over €61,000 during the Meentycat sponsored walk earlier this year.
In addition SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s second largest utility, has provided a further €58,000 to local energy efficiency projects from its Meentycat community fund.
This brings the total investment by SSE Airtricity towards local groups through sponsorship contributions and its annual community fund to almost €120,000 this year.
It means the overall total of monies raised or contributed this year for local communities through the Meentycat Wind Farm stands at around €180,000.
Almost 1,000 walkers representing around 40 local groups took part in a 15km sponsored walk in September through Meentycat Wind Farm, Ireland’s largest single wind farm.
Walkers enjoyed the opportunity to see close up many of the 63 wind turbines, whilst taking in views of Donegal’s landmarks including Mount Errigaland and Barnesmore Gap.
Anne Reynolds, Airtricity’s Community Development Officer, commented: “Once again we’re delighted at SSE Airtricity to be able to provide top-up funding of around €58,000 from our Meentycat Wind Farm to support the sponsorship efforts of local groups at this year’s Meentycat sponsored walk."
The Meentycat and Culliagh Wind Farms, which are operated by Airtricity’s parent company SSE, generate around 100MW of renewable energy.