As many of you know, Sustainable Clonakilty received the CEF Community & Voluntary Award in 2010 for their work in putting together the town's first Energy Week last October. Since then they have published an in-depth study of how the Clonakilty district can achieve energy neutrality by 2020 - another excellent piece of work and hopefully the beginning of an exciting journey for the town and surrounding area.
Three committee officers from Sustainable Clonakilty - Peter Madden, (Chair), Alison Wickham, (Secretary) and Cionnaith Ó Súilleabháin, (P.R.O.), supported by three reps from Cork County Council Environment Department, joined similar groups and individuals from all over the country at a workshop in Dundalk last week to learn about the "Sustainable Energy Communities" Programme.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland organised the event which will see them (SEAI) selecting two communities each year for the next 5 years for funding to help them become sustainable from an energy consumption perspective. The timing and attending at the event couldn't be more appropriate for Sustainable Clonakilty, given that it recently published it's 2020 Clonergy roadmap for energy neutrality.
This study commissioned by the voluntary group saw expert consultants carry out an inventory of current energy usage in the Clonakilty and surrounding areas, and found that approx. €23 million is expended annually on fossil-based energy, all of which is imported and mainly oil based. Speaking to other participants at the Dundalk event, the SC members felt that they were much more advanced in their plans than many other communities.
The Clonergy 2020 aims to have the Clonakilty District replacing much of the imported fossil-based energy with locally-produced sustainable alternatives by the year 2020. This will mean that the area will be guaranteed a plentiful supply of electricity, transport fuels and heat from locally produced sustainable sources and has the potential to crate over 300 jobs in the process.
The price of petrol at the pumps at present is an example of how we are presently totally dependent on this as one example of our energy needs. Matters totally outside of our control taking place in countries thousands of miles away are dictating what we pay.
The Dundalk Workshop was a very positive engagement for the Sustainable Clonakilty members who now intend to pursue the application to be considered as one of the two "Sustainable Energy Communities" in the country next year. If successful, it would mean that the ambition of becoming energy neutral by the year 2020 will be made a lot easier as the organisation will be able to devote more time and expertise to pushing the project forward.
The Sustainable Energy Communities Programme is lead by the local authority with voluntary input essential for success.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland organised the event which will see them (SEAI) selecting two communities each year for the next 5 years for funding to help them become sustainable from an energy consumption perspective. The timing and attending at the event couldn't be more appropriate for Sustainable Clonakilty, given that it recently published it's 2020 Clonergy roadmap for energy neutrality.
This study commissioned by the voluntary group saw expert consultants carry out an inventory of current energy usage in the Clonakilty and surrounding areas, and found that approx. €23 million is expended annually on fossil-based energy, all of which is imported and mainly oil based. Speaking to other participants at the Dundalk event, the SC members felt that they were much more advanced in their plans than many other communities.
The Clonergy 2020 aims to have the Clonakilty District replacing much of the imported fossil-based energy with locally-produced sustainable alternatives by the year 2020. This will mean that the area will be guaranteed a plentiful supply of electricity, transport fuels and heat from locally produced sustainable sources and has the potential to crate over 300 jobs in the process.
The price of petrol at the pumps at present is an example of how we are presently totally dependent on this as one example of our energy needs. Matters totally outside of our control taking place in countries thousands of miles away are dictating what we pay.
The Dundalk Workshop was a very positive engagement for the Sustainable Clonakilty members who now intend to pursue the application to be considered as one of the two "Sustainable Energy Communities" in the country next year. If successful, it would mean that the ambition of becoming energy neutral by the year 2020 will be made a lot easier as the organisation will be able to devote more time and expertise to pushing the project forward.
The Sustainable Energy Communities Programme is lead by the local authority with voluntary input essential for success.
