€150,000 Cloncreen Wind Farm community fund opens for 2025
Bord na Móna recently announced the opening of the 2025 Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund in East Offaly.
The fund is set to distribute €150,000 this year to community and voluntary groups, non-profit groups, clubs and societies, or organisations with a charitable status which deliver community goods and services to the areas within 10 kilometres of the wind farm.
Bord na Móna said that, since the fund was launched in 2023, over €300,000 has been distributed to 39 community projects across areas including Clonbullogue, Ballyfore, Edenderry, Bracknagh, Clonmore and Rhode.
The grants have supported the delivery of a broad range of projects from solar panels on sports clubs, facilities for youth centres and upgrading community halls, to equipment for drama groups, public defibrillators, biodiversity projects and more.
Each project was proposed by the local community groups based on the needs that they identified and their own vision for the future of their area and support the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
"The fund recognises the important contribution of local volunteers and organisations who power up their communities and towns and will cumulatively distribute €2.25 million to the area over a 15-year period until 2038 as part of a broader community benefit package being delivered in the area by Bord na Móna's Cloncreen Wind Farm," the company stated.
Making the announcement on behalf of Bord na Móna’s Cloncreen Wind Farm, Head of Asset Management Brendan Connolly said: "Bord na Móna is delighted to announce the launch of the 2025 Cloncreen Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and are looking forward to working with the local communities on the delivery of projects which will benefit the people living near the wind farm.
"Bord na Móna is committed to ensuring that local communities benefit from the development of renewable energy infrastructure projects in their area, which are needed to support the transition to a carbon neutral society.
"Our team will continue to work closely with the local community in the rollout of the Fund and are eager to hear from anyone with project ideas."
The fund is administered by M-CO, an independent strategic design and project management company who specialise in the areas of climate action and community development and is overseen by a Fund Committee including local volunteer representatives.
Emma O'Mahony, Community Benefit Fund Administrator on behalf of M-CO stated, "As Fund Administrators, we are here to help you develop your project ideas and to make the application process as easy as possible.
"We have been so impressed by the community spirit we have seen in the groups who have applied previously and encourage anyone with an idea for improving your community near to the Wind Farm to get in touch. We hope to hear from groups who have new ideas as well as groups who want to build on what they have already achieved."
The closing date for applications to the fund is July 16. Full details on the fund and how to apply are available at: cloncreenwindfarm.submit.com
Queries on the Community Benefit Fund can be emailed to communitybenefitfund@mco.ie.