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SEAI PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE BRIDGE FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY ENERGY UPGRADES A new partnership between the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Atlantic Seaboard North Climate Action Regional Office, which consists of counties Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway, will pay communities up to ¤25,000 towards the upfront costs of their energy upgrade projects. This partnership will provide vital bridge funding to assist communities in achieving their sustainable energy ambitions. By removing the financial barriers of trying to raise initial funding, the communities involved can now focus on leading their projects and developing a sustainable energy plan for their local area. The Local Authority involved will re-coup the initial funding cost from SEAI. Speaking about this bridge funding William Walsh, CEO of SEAI, said: “Community action plays a central role in Ireland’s response to the climate crisis. All over Ireland groups are coming together to create sustainable energy projects that will benefit their communities and radically reduce their climate impact. I am delighted that we can help these communities achieve their sustainable energy ambitions by making it easier to access initial funding costs
William Walsh, CEO, SEAI.
in collaboration with Local Authorities. SEAI will work with Local Authorities across the country to roll this out in due course, making this type of funding more accessible to interested communities.” Achill Island is the first community in the Sustainable Energy Community network to avail of this bridge funding, with a further eight communities already signed up to the initiative. SEAI provides mentoring and grants of up to ¤25,000 for more than 560 communities across Ireland. Funding allows communities to undertake a baseline assessment of their energy use, carry out energy audits of their homes, community buildings and local businesses, and helps them to identify the most suitable renewable energy solutions for them. Further information on the community network and how to get involved is available on the SEAI Sustainable Community Energy webpage at: www.seai.ie/ community-energy/sustainable-energy-communities/
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