Cuts in electricity costs for some Offaly households
HOUSEHOLDS living close to Bord na Mona wind farms are looking forward to cuts of up to €1,000 in their annual electricity bills.
Consumers will also receive payments towards costs such as solar panels or electric cars and chargers.
Under what the energy company calls 'near neighbour' schemes, residents located nearest to a turbine benefit the most and a sliding scale then sees the grant drop.
However, some consumers entitled to financial assistance under the scheme can still receive about €400 annually and the payments will continue for 15 years.
Bord na Mona confirmed this week that its newest wind farm, the 21-turbine Cloncreen facility in the east of the county, is part of the near neighbour scheme.
A spokesperson said: “The yearly payment ranges from €400 to a maximum of €1,000, and households that are based within a 1.7km radius from a turbine are eligible. This annual contribution is made over a 15-year period, and the specified distance from a turbine must be within 1km to avail of the maximum €1,000 contribution.”
In addition to those payments, Bord na Mona is also making a once-off contribution to home energy efficiency measures and education.
“A typical once-off contribution towards home energy efficiency measures and/or education supports is between €1,000 and €4,000 depending on proximity to a turbine. This contribution is separate to the yearly contribution of €1,000,” said the company.
“This contribution supports a variety of efficiency measures such as solar power installation, battery installation, the purchase of an EV or EV charger and microgeneration for example.”
As Bord na Mona expands its wind energy portfolio, the level of payments may vary from wind farm to wind farm, depending on the number of people living in the catchment area.
In Offaly, the scheme was first put in place around the Mountlucas wind farm near Daingean and Bord na Mona's next wind energy project after Cloncreen, Derrinlough in the west of the county, will also trigger payouts to residents living the required distances from its 21 turbines.
Derrinlough wind farm is being built on former peatlands south of Cloghan village. Bord na Mona has identified 21 houses within 1km of turbines, another 28 within 1.25km, a further 32 within 1.5km and 40 more 1.75km away.
Bord na Mona has plans for another wind farm at Lemanaghan between Ballycumber and Ferbane.
Up to 17 turbines are proposed and in all the company has mapped 234 houses within 1.75km, including 24 within 1km.
The company establishes benefit funds for communities and in the case of Cloncreen, which is 4km east of the Mountlucas wind farm, the fund will invest some €5 million in local projects.
Another €500,000 will be used to support local students through an educational scholarship scheme. Applications are now being sought for four grants of €2,500 each year for four years for students living within 15km of the Cloncreen wind farm.
John Reilly, Bord na Mona's head of renewable energy said: “As one of the largest projects under the RESS 1 [renewable energy support scheme] 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.”
Projects awarded from the €150,000 community benefit fund include -
Ballyfore GAA: upgrade of pitch fencing to enhance the club’s facilities; Ballykilleen Group Water Scheme: purchase and installation of two defibrillators and cabinets; Blundell Wood Residents' Association: purchase of biodiversity materials and equipment; Bracknagh Community Association: painting of community facility to enhance the aesthetic of the building; Bracknagh Heritage Society: purchase of heritage signage and recycling installation to encourage historic, cultural, biodiverse activities and research projects; Clonbullogue Development Association: upgrade of the community hall facility to enhance its use for the community and provide energy saving through insulation; Clonbullogue GAA Club: upgrade and extension of floodlighting for training area using sustainable lighting to allow for increased winter access; Clonbullogue National School: resurfacing of basketball court; Eden Pitch and Putt: purchase and installation of equipment to upgrade the course facilities; Edenderry Canoe Club: purchase of water sports and safety equipment; Edenderry Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eireann: purchase of music equipment to support the delivery of music classes; Edenderry Community First Responders: purchase of two defibrillators and cabinets; Edenderry Community Playground: purchase of benches; Edenderry District Irish Girl Guides: purchase of camping equipment for the Irish Girl Guides; Edenderry Juvenile Athletics Club: installation of fencing for multi-use games area providing a safe space for children to train; Edenderry Christmas Light Committee: installation of lighting connections to provide additional sustainable, safe, and cost-effective Christmas lighting; St Broughan’s GAA: contribution towards the purchase of children's Féile kits; St Broughan’s LGFA: purchase and installation of two storage containers for training equipment; St Joseph’s Boxing Club Edenderry: purchase of boxing equipment; St Mary’s Primary School Parents Association, Edenderry: purchase of playground equipment for early intervention classes; St Patrick's Primary School Parents Association, Edenderry: purchase and installation of AV equipment to enhance the school’s communications facilities and the school hall’s use by the wider community; St Mary's Secondary School, Edenderry: purchase of outdoor gym equipment, including wheelchair accessible equipment to grow the extracurricular supports offered to students; The Acorn Project: development of a garden facility to promote wellbeing among the users of this youth service.