Monaghan wind farms will pay more than €1.7 million in rates to Monaghan County Council this year.
That's according to Wind Energy Ireland. Wind farms in the county will generate enough to cover the council's entire local contribution towards water supply programmes.
Data rates compiled by Halpin's on behalf of Wind Energy Ireland (WEI) found that wind farms will contribute nearly 9.5% of all commercial rates paid in Co Monaghan in 2026.
Commercial rates are a local property tax charged by county councils and city councils on commercial and industrial properties.
They help fund local services such as roads, fire services, public lighting, parks, planning, libraries and town development.
Nationally, wind farms will provide almost €75 million in commercial rates to county councils across Ireland and in nine counties payments from wind farms will make up more than 10 per cent of their entire commercial rates income.
Wind farms also support local projects and community groups via their community benefit funds.
In 2024, the last full year reported, Monaghan wind farms contributed over €303,240 to various projects in their locality.
Beyond contributing to a significant portion of local authority budgets and community benefit funds, wind farms are also supporting Irish electricity consumers.
Research published last year by Baringa demonstrates that since 2000, renewable electricity has - conservatively - saved consumers nearly €1 billion in their electricity bills.
