OREANDA-NEWS. SSE Airtricity, Ireland’s largest provider of wind power, has announced that it has presented over €1 million to community groups close to its wind farms in counties Cavan and Monaghan since it began community funding in 2006.

Through its Community Fund programme, SSE Airtricity makes annual contributions to community groups in the vicinity of its wind farms. SSE Airtricity has been contributing funding to community projects in Cavan and Monaghan since 2006, and a presentation last week brings its overall contribution to good causes in the region to over €1 million.

This year’s funding will allow Kill National School in Cootehill to install energy efficient lighting. Pearse McKenna, secretary of the school’s board of management, said: “The funding from SSE Airtricity will go towards upgrading the school’s lighting to improve our energy efficiency. We hope that this will ultimately reduce our winter utility bills, which will be a huge help to the school and allow us to invest in other areas.”

The Lavey Community Group, which received a Community Fund contribution for the third consecutive year, will also be using the funds to install energy efficient lighting. Chairperson, Ciaran Smith, 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 building insulation, solar panels, and now energy efficient lighting.”

The majority of the recipient groups will be putting this year’s contribution towards greater energy efficiency, which SSE Airtricity strongly supports. Other projects being supported range from fitting new energy efficient windows and doors at St. Brigid’s National School in Tunnyduff, to wall insulation at Ballinamoney Childcare.

SSE Airtricity Community Development Officer, Anne Reynolds said: “Through our Community Fund programme, we have now awarded over €1 million to community groups in Cavan and Monaghan. We’re delighted to have supported so many worthy projects in the area. We remain committed to bringing positive energy to the communities closest to our wind farms.”

SSE Airtricity’s three wind farms in counties Cavan and Monaghan – Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt – have a total capacity of 70MW and produce enough renewable energy to power over 30,000 homes in the region.