Press Release

Press Release Airtricity to present €100,000 to local community projects in the vicinity of the Dromada and Tournafulla wind farms – 14 local groups to benefit from Airtricity Community Funds – Airtricity, Ireland’s fastest-growing and greenest energy utility, is today presenting €100,000 in community funding to local groups in the vicinity of the Dromada and Tournafulla wind farms, Co. Limerick. The presentation ceremony is taking place at 8pm in the Con Colbert Community Hall, Athea, Co. Limerick. Under Airtricity’s Community Fund Programme, the company annually makes a financial contribution from each of its 25 wind farms across Ireland to local projects. The fund has For further information contact: taken a strong focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Anne Reynolds Community Liaison Officer This year, Airtricity is making individual funding awards to 14 innovative community-based Airtricity T: 01 655 6556 projects adjacent to the combined 55.5MW Dromada and Tournafulla Wind Farms. M: 086 878 3104 E: [email protected] Sustainability and energy efficiency projects being funded in Athea, Abbeyfeale, Newcastle West, Castlemahon, Knockanure, Templeglantine and Tournafulla include: Airtricity Press Office T: (01) 655 6888 E: [email protected] - Complete re-insulation and upgrade of windows and doors for the Templeglantine Community Hall - Insulation for Athea National School, Knockanure GAA Club, and Con Colbert Community Hall - Replacement of windows and doors for the Abbeyfeale District Search & Rescue Centre - A building energy rating (BER) for seven Community Houses and a Day Care Centre operated by the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland - A BER for Templeglantine National School - Insulation and double glazing windows for Castlemahon Community Hall - Rainwater harvesting system for the Desmond Ability Resource Complex - Energy efficient pitch lighting for Monagea GAA Club - Energy efficient lighting in the Athea Sports Hall on behalf of the North Kerry Vixens - Composters for the Green Acres project undertaken by West Limerick Community Development Project in Abbeyfeale - Installing double glazed windows in St. Ita’s Parish Hall in Abbeyfeale - Installing solar lighting in a recreational area for Athea Foroige Youth Club Press Release Christy Walsh, Templeglantine Muintir na Tire, comments: “Airtricity’s funding will give us the opportunity to revive the Templeglantine Community Hall to become an efficient landmark building for all to be proud of. We will use the funding to re-insulate the building including wrapping the outside of the hall in insulation. Through these measures we aim to reduce the heat loss of the hall by over 74%, greatly reducing our running costs.” Mary Lee Geary, West Limerick Community Radio, comments: “We’re delighted to receive funding to insulate St. Ita’s Hall. The past couple of years have proved very difficult for community projects as fundraising revenues have fallen in the economic downturn. In the past few years Airtricity has been a great support to so many community groups.” Anne Reynolds, Airtricity Community Liaison Officer, comments: “At Airtricity, we believe local communities around our wind farms nationwide must see the benefit of the wind farm in their locality. Airtricity’s Community Fund Programme at at Tournafulla and Dromada specifically benefits the communities adjacent to the wind farms and is our way of contributing over the life time of the wind farms to the future sustainable development of local Limerick communities. This year we’re delighted to be supporting 14 innovative and sustainable initiatives with funding of €100,000, making the Tournafulla and Dromada Community Fund one of our largest nationwide. These projects will help local communities and each of the 14 groups supported to reduce their fuel consumption and energy costs year on year.” 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. Editor’s Notes: 1. The Tournafulla and Dromada 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 55.5MW – enough electricity to power almost 30,000 homes – and all power produced by SSE at Tournafulla and Dromada Wind Farms exclusively supply Ireland’s greenest electricity company Airtricity. 2. As well as contributing to Airtricity’s greener electricity supply, the renewable energy produced at Tournafulla and Dromada Wind Farms contributes a massive reduction in greenhouse emitting CO2 of 100,000 tonnes each year. The green energy generated at Tournafulla and Dromada 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. 3. SSE is the No.1 generator of renewable energy in Ireland with over 500MW of renewable energy generation from 25 wind farms across the country, including power from Ireland’s largest wind farm, the 72MW Meentycat Wind Farm in Co. Donegal. .

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