The Western Development Commission launched their Local Energy Communities (LECo) project in IT Sligo on Friday April 6th. The launch was combined with a community energy awareness day. LECo is funded by the NPA programme with partners in Ireland, Finland, Sweden and Norway. The goal is to combine new innovative technologies with locally available natural resources, and to raise awareness of energy efficiency and identify possibilities to use renewable energy.

The speakers included: Paul Kenny CEO of Tipperary Energy Agency; Ruth Buggie Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) Programme Manger with SEAI; Pauline Leonard GREBE Project Coordinator Western Development Commission; Mel Gavin R&D Coordinator IT Sligo; Aisling Nic Aoidh LECo Project Officer Údarás na Gaeltachta; and Martin Keating Mayo County Council’s Climate Change Regional Office. The event was organised and Chaired by Dr Orla Nic Suibhne from the Western Development Commission.

At the event, Ruth Buggie from SEAI announced details of a new grant programme specifically designed for communities within the SEC network. This new programme will go live mid April 2018 and aims to develop community skills to a level where they can manage their own capital projects, lead small to medium scale project in their own communities, build and maintain energy awareness and knowledge locally, and also provide funding for small scale demonstration projects to showcase innovative energy solutions. There is €3m available for this new funding programme for communities in 2018.

Pictures at: www.facebook.com/LECoproject