West Limerick Resources - "Committed to the Community"

West Limerick Sustainable Energy Initiative Launch

West Limerick is to become a sustainable energy region under a new initiative led by West Limerick Resources, which will be launched by Duncan Stewart on Saturday, December 3^rd in the Courtenay Lodge Hotel, Newcastle West at 3pm. 

"A Sustainable Energy Region is a region that can meet its energy needs today - heating buildings, fuelling transport and using electricity - through the generation of energy from indigenous sources without hurting the regions ability to meet its future energy needs," explains Tim Coffey, Renewable Energy Development Officer with West Limerick Resources.   "SEAI have found that every euro spent on energy schemes created a net benefit of €5 to society."

The pilot initiative, which is being run in co-operation with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), aims to target four areas - communities, businesses, agriculture and training and will be funded through the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 (LEADER).  While initial expressions of interest have been received from a number of communities including Abbeyfeale, Adare, Askeaton, Broadford, Kantoher, Kilcornan and Newcastle West, the initiative will be officially launched this Saturday by Duncan Stewart, presenter of the T.V. series "About the House" and "Eco Eye".  He will be joined by Seamus Hoyne of LIT and project manager of the Serve Project, a European Project for the development of a sustainable energy region, Pat Stephens of the Limerick Clare Energy Agency and Tim Coffey, Renewable Energy Development Officer at West Limerick Resources.  These speakers will discuss the initiative and its potential benefits in detail.

"The programme's vision is to stimulate a national move towards sustainable and renewable energy practice through demonstration of best practice in the West Limerick region," explains Mr Coffey.  "Reducing our energy dependence on imported fuels by using indigenous resources will retain money in the local economy and lead to new jobs, increased regional prosperity and make West Limerick a more attractive proposition to invest in.  This programme is based on the very successful SEAI Sustainable Energy Community Scheme running in Dundalk and we hope to replicate that success in the West Limerick area."

Entrance to the launch is free of charge and booking is not necessary.  For more information please contact Tim Coffey at tcoffey@wlr.ie or Tel: 069 66296

 

Posted on 25/11/2011 by Suzanne Rowley, Information Officer