Press Release

2nd September 2010 Page 1 of 3

Airtricity presents €113,000 to local community projects in Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt

– & Monaghan groups benefit from Airtricity Community Funds –

Thursday 2nd September 2010: Airtricity, Ireland’s fastest-growing and greenest energy utility which is powered by SSE, has presented €113,000 in community funding to local groups in Cavan and Monaghan. The presentation was made at a ceremony held in the Errigal Country House Hotel, , .

The funding awards have been presented by Airtricity to a total of over 70 community-based projects and groups under the annual Community Funds for the combined 47-turbine Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt Wind Farms.

Under Airtricity’s Community Fund Programme, the company annually makes a financial contribution from each wind farm to local projects. This is the third year of the awards for Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt Wind Farms.

Airtricity has made individual funding awards ranging from €1,000 to €5,000 to a selection of For further information diverse and innovative environmental, educational, arts and sporting projects promoted by contact: community groups in the areas around the vicinity of the three wind farms. Projects in areas including , Cootehill, Mullagh and Drung in County Cavan, and Ballybay and

Airtricity Press Office Castleblaney in County Monaghan have been funded. E: [email protected] T: (01) 655 6888 Airtricity’s Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt Wind Farms are operated by Airtricity’s parent company SSE, the broadest-based energy utility in Ireland and the UK. The wind farms have a combined generation capacity of 70.5 MW – enough electricity to power more than 43,000 homes and to prevent the release of between 70,000 and 177,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. The green energy generated at Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt Wind Farms will help ensure that Ireland meets its national targets of 40% renewables by 2020 and the EU’s mandatory 20% reduction in carbon emissions.

In addition to Community Fund benefits, investment in renewable energy presents an unparalleled opportunity to act as a leading economic stimulant locally and nationally in terms of construction jobs and materials, professional services and through local income in the form of local authority rates and landowner rental.

Anne Reynolds, Airtricity Community Liaison Officer, comments: “Renewable energy investment not only brings economic benefits to the country as a whole, but also specifically to local communities. At Airtricity, we believe that local communities, such as those around Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt, must also see the benefit of each wind farm in their locality. Airtricity’s Community Fund Programme specifically benefits the communities adjacent to each wind farm and is our way of contributing over the life time of the wind farm to the future sustainable development of the area.”

Ends

Editor’s Notes, including the full list of benefiting groups, follow…

Press Release

2nd September 2010 Page 2 of 3

About Airtricity Airtricity is Ireland’s largest independent and fastest-growing energy utility, supplying 300,000 customers with cheaper and greener electricity and with cheaper gas for homes and businesses. Airtricity’s greener electricity supply is powered by SSE with over 440MW of renewable energy from 22 wind farms across the country – the largest wind generation portfolio in Ireland. Airtricity has been recognised as the leading greener energy supplier in Ireland, winning the Green Energy Award in 2010 for the second year running, and is ranked the Most Reputable Energy Company in Ireland in the 2010 Ireland RepTrak Study.

Cavan & Monaghan Benefiting Groups The full list of community groups in County Cavan and County Monaghan benefiting from the 2010 Bindoo, Gartnaneane and Mullananalt Community Funds are:

COUNTY CAVAN: Bailieborough Bailieborough Community Association Ltd Bailieborough Resource Centre Henry James Literary Festival Naomh Mhaodhog National School St. Felim’s National School Tunnyduff Community Centre

Ballyjamesduff Lavey GAA Club

Ballyhaise Castletara Camogie Club

Cavan Cavan Camogie Board Cavan Celtic FC Cavan Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Cootehill Bunnoe Boxing Club Bunnoe Childcare Group Bunnoe Community Enterprise Ltd. Bunnoe IFA Water Scheme Ltd. Bunnoe Kill Pioneers Bunnoe Pastoral Council Canningstown & District Development Association Carealot Crèche Corick Church Corraneary Presbyterian Church Cavan Kayak Run Cavan Pony Club Cootehill Senior Citizens Cootehill Tae Kwon Do Club Martial Arts Cootehill Tourist Association Denn Gun Club Drumlin Equestrian Drumlin Hounds Harriers Hunt Club Drummartin Orange Hall Dernakesh Group Water Co-op Ltd Family & Friends Beaver Scouts Kill Community Alert Kill Community Development Ltd. Kill ICA Kill GFC Kill Juvenile GFC Kill National School Kill National School Parents Association Kill Parish Council

Press Release

2nd September 2010 Page 3 of 3

Kilmount Presbyterian Church Kilsherdany Group Water Society Knockbridge Camogie Club Laragh Angling Club Laragh Camogie Club Laragh Childcare Services Laragh Junior Pioneers Laragh National School Laragh National School Parents Association Maudabawn Community Alert Rainbow Kids Playgroup St. Mark’s Church, Kill St. Finbarr’s Ladies GFC Tullyvin Tidy Village

Drung Drung Gaelic Football Club Drung Senior Social Club

Lisboduff Lisboduff National School Camogie Club

Mullagh Mullagh Tidy Towns

Stradone St. Michael’s National School Parents Association Clifferna Gun Club

Tullyard Gerry Whelan Memorial Festival (Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann)

Shercock Athletic Club Droim Dhuin Ladies Football Club

COUNTY MONAGHAN:

Ballybay Ballybay Development Centre Ballybay ICA

Castleblaney Castleblaney Hurling Club Drumgoon Camogie Drumgoon Community Centre Co-op Drumgoon GAA Youth Work Ireland