Cloncreen Wind Farm awards €150,000 to 23 local projects
Ballykilleen Group Water Scheme, Clonbullogue Development Association, Clonbullogue National School and Edenderry Community First Responders are among 23 local projects to be awarded funding from the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
The funding announced by Bord na Móna’s Cloncreen Wind Farm amounts to €150,000, which is to be shared across 23 local projects adjacent to the wind farm. The Fund was established by Bord na Móna to support the local community with approximately €5 million of funding committed over the 15-year lifetime of the Fund.
Funding for local groups is administered by M-CO who work together with Cloncreen Wind Farm and a local Fund Committee to decide on the allocation of funds to projects that support at least one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on goals related to quality education, affordable and clean energy, sustainable cities and action and climate action.
As part of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund, Bord na Móna has also launched a Near Neighbour Scheme. This Scheme offers electricity bill payers living within a prescribed distance of a turbine an annual contribution towards their electricity bills and a once off contribution towards home energy efficiency measures and/or education support. Over the lifetime of the Fund, it is expected that more than €1.5 million from the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund will be invested in the Near Neighbour Scheme.
Today, Bord na Móna has also launched an Educational Scholarship Scheme as part of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund. This portion of the fund will offer a grant of up to €10,000 to four local students, (€2,500 per annum up to a maximum of four years) living in the vicinity of Cloncreen Wind Farm. Over the lifetime of the Fund, Cloncreen Wind Farm will contribute over €500,000 to support more than 50 local students pursuing further education.
Speaking on the announcement, John Reilly, Head of Renewable Energy at Bord na Móna said, “As one of the largest projects under the RESS 1 auction, Bord na Móna’s Cloncreen Wind Farm will play an important role as part of the nation’s wider renewable energy network helping Ireland to meet its climate targets. With this project now fully operational and producing enough green electricity to power the equivalent of 55,000 homes across Ireland per annum, I am delighted to announce the allocation of funding to 23 local projects as part of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund.
“Our investment of approximately €5 million in funding over the lifetime of the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund is a key part of our commitment to the community. In addition to funding local projects, we have also launched a Near Neighbour Scheme to support members of the local community with energy bills and to increase the energy efficiency of their homes. The Fund will also include an Educational Scholarship Scheme, which will support local students pursue further education.
“We have received a positive response from individuals and groups alike within the local community and would like to thank everyone who took the time to submit an application for funding. Our team will continue to work closely with the local community in the delivery of the Fund over the next 15 years.”
Over 15 years, the Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund will invest circa €5 million into the local community nearest to the wind farm through its Education Scholarship Scheme, Near Neighbour Scheme and funding support to Community Groups.