SSE Airtricity establishes €5m all-island sustainability fund

Consultation process begins on identifying impactful projects in sustainability, biodiversity, decarbonisation and more

Life

Pictured: Klair Neenan and Deirdre Smith, SSE Airtricity

SSE Airtricity has invested €5 million in its Generation Green Community Fund. The company plans to undertake a 10-week consultation process, which opens today, and which will continue until 26 July, inviting views from communities, individuals and organisations from towns, villages, inner cities, and rural heartlands, to advise how the fund could best support green initiatives throughout our communities.

Klair Neenan, managing director of SSE Airtricity, said: “Getting to net zero is in everyone’s interest and local communities will be at the heart of the energy transition. We know there are passionate people and groups working hard across Ireland and we want to help them make a positive difference by powering up their sustainability plans. But funding can often be an issue. That’s why we’re delighted to launch our unique Generation Green Community Fund.

“We know issues like biodiversity, education and decarbonisation are big priorities but to ensure the funding makes the biggest difference we want to hear from local communities directly. That’s why we’re launching this initial consultation, and we look forward to hearing from communities and individuals, to inform how the fund should be used.”

As part of the consultation process, SSE Airtricity will be inviting local communities and individuals to shape what the priorities for the fund should be. This will ensure the fund focuses on what is most important to communities. Examples of priorities may include green energy upgrades for community buildings, community biodiversity projects or green skills workshops and education.

The SSE Airtricity Generation Green Community Fund will be administered in line with a number of UN Sustainable Development Goals, aligning with SSE Airtricity’s core sustainability priorities around community, biodiversity, education and decarbonisation.

The Fund will be open to application later this year, following the initial consultation period.

TechCentral Reporters

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