Minister visits grouped wind farm

The event, which was organised by Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and SSE Ireland on Global Wind day, was also attended by Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard.

Mark Ennis, Chairman of SSE Ireland, said the company was delighted to host the NI Chamber of Commerce event, and especially to welcome Minister for Infrastructure Chris Hazzard to Slieve Kirk Wind Park on Global Wind Day:

“Renewable energy depresses the wholesale price of electricity, makes significant contributions to the local economy and supports employment in Northern Ireland. Today’s ‘Minister on the Move’ event gives us an excellent platform from which to showcase the very real and evident economic contribution that renewable energy has delivered here.

“At Slieve Kirk Wind Park SSE is operating the largest wind farm in Northern Ireland, generating enough green power for 65,000 homes and saving 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere each year.

“Our investment at Slieve Kirk represents a total by SSE of £125 million, £55 million of which is being directly invested into the local economy. That’s making a real difference towards achieving a thriving low carbon economy and sustaining jobs.”

Ann McGregor, Chief Executive of NI Chamber said:

“I would like to congratulate SSE Renewables on the development of Northern Ireland’s first grouped wind farm. The project brings with it a host of economic benefits, not just greening our energy supply, but also by contributing almost £750,000 so far to more than 100 local projects through the SSE Airtricity’s Community Fund, with 55 scholarships for local students progressing to third-level education.”