Castlepook fund opened for 2020

COMMUNITY groups in North Cork have once gain been invited to share in a funding windfall under a scheme established by the joint developers of the Castlepook Wind Farm near Doneraile.

Built at a cost of around €64 million, the wind farm has 14 turbines with a combined generating capacity of 33.3 mega watts of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of approximately 17,000 homes per year.

Its operators, Castlepook DAC s subsidiary of the ESB, established a fund with local community and voluntary organisations invited to apply for funding under its auspices to help finance projects of benefit to communities in close proximity to the wind farm.

The fund, which runs annually, has a cumulative value of approximately €1.2 million across the 25-year life span of the wind farm with €50,000 set aside under the 2020 tranche of the scheme.

To be eligible for funding a project must fall within pre-defined thematic areas covering educations and skills’ health, safety and well-being; environment and habitat conservation; energy efficiency and sustainability; culture and heritage recreation, sport & social inclusion and tourism.

Since it was set up groups to have received funding have included GAA clubs, development companies, community & parish councils, schools and a Scout group.

Frank Kelly, stakeholder manager at the ESB said applications for the latest round of funding will be accepted up until Friday, February 28.

“We remain committed to creating a brighter future for all by being a good neighbour and we encourage all local organisations to apply for this funding,” he said.

For more information and to apply visit www.windfarmcommunityfunds.ie.