Communities in Laois are being urged to apply for a share of a new €28 million fund for community energy projects across Ireland which was launched recently.
The Community Energy Grants Scheme is funded under the National Retrofit Programme and is now open for applications.
It offers grant support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects throughout the country.
The Scheme supports substantial investment in energy upgrades to homes, community and commercial buildings.
This includes rented properties, businesses, sports and community facilities, public sector buildings and schools.
The successful communities will have warmer and healthier buildings, lower energy bills and reduced harmful CO2 emissions.
There are also significant employment and competitiveness benefits locally and nationally.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are administering the new scheme, which is an enhanced version of the previous Better Energy Communities Scheme.
“Communities in Laois could reduce their energy bills with grant-aided projects,” according to Minister Pippa Hackett.
“€28 million is being made available for community energy projects, and I would urge communities in Laois to get their applications in,” she says.
“430 projects have availed of this funding through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and have cut their energy bills by €70m.
“A project can include businesses, sports and community facilities, public sector buildings, homes and school.
“Reducing our energy consumption reduces our bills, our emissions and our dependency on fossil fuels.
“Abbeyleix launched its energy master plan this week and other communities could follow this lead.”
More information on the community grants is available from SEAI at https://www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants/.
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