Shutdown for the Amazon data center in Brétigny-sur-Orge (Essonne).
The project has just been refused approval by the regional prefect.
Supported by one of the subsidiaries of the American giant, Amazon Web Services (AWS), this imposing data center was to be built next to the warehouse already belonging to the group, on the site of the former flight test center of Bretigny.
An installation file classified for the protection of the environment (ICPE) was filed in this regard on October 29.
After examination, the regional prefect considered that "no waste heat recovery solution
(Editor's note: recovery heat)
produced by the data center project was proposed, while the regional air climate plan and of energy from Ile-de-France establishes as a priority the recovery of fatal heat ”.
"The lack of elements does not allow the appreciation of the need to artificialize the space envisaged for the realization of the project", he adds.
The mayors of the agglomeration point to a lack of "consultation"
The Amazon group, which did not wish to comment on this decision, has owned 31 hectares of the former flight test center (CEV) of the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) since 2017.
In August 2019, it opened its sixth distribution center in France on site.
A second, smaller warehouse was due to be built, before the building permit was abandoned in July 2018, for no known reason.
Instead, he planned to build a data center.
A project carried out "without consultation" with the elected officials of Cœur d'Essonne agglomeration, owner since 2015 of the 300 hectares of the site.
Last November, 17 of the 21 mayors sent a letter to Amazon management, expressing their many questions.
Mail that has not been answered.
“The State has listened to part of our arguments, welcomes Eric Braive, the president (DVG) of Coeur d'Essonne. This project did not make sense. We are not against data centers, we know their importance. But located here, there is no public equipment, such as a swimming pool, to benefit from the heat produced. Instead, they have the means to create an innovative, solidarity-based economy project. We are ready to get back around the table, so that we can see together how things could be done. "
To imagine something else is the wish of Sylvain Tanguy, mayor (DVG) of Plessis-Pâté and president of the SPL (local public company) Air 217 in charge of the rehabilitation of the 300 hectares of the base.
“If we had known from the start that the group was considering building a data center, the discussions might not have been the same,” he says.
It would be good if their future project could create jobs in the region.
As was the case with the opening of the neighboring warehouse, where nearly 3,000 people work.
"Amazon must review its copy"
Last May, a demonstration bringing together around forty associative activists from Brétigny Transition, Friends of the Earth, Attac, Greenpeace was organized on the local market to launch a petition against this project.
All highlighted its incompatibility with the presence right next to the Ferme de l'Envol, where four market gardeners harvest organic fruits and vegetables on the 60 hectares.
“We won a first battle, but not the war, warns Steevy Gustave, opposition councilor (EELV) and president of Brétigny Transition.
We had asked for a public debate to be held so that people could find out exactly what Amazon was planning here.
The prefect heard our concerns.
We welcome it.
"
The American giant has until mid-June to file an appeal against the prefect's decision. The environmental authorization file is being examined by the services of the Regional and Interdepartmental Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Transport.
"The prefect's decision shows that this project was not quite successful around the environmental issue", analyzes Nicolas Méary, mayor (UDI) of Brétigny-sur-Orge, who had also sent a letter to Amazon to request clarifications in terms of environment and taxation. “We have had some feedback, especially on the issue of rainwater harvesting. This is a point on which we have pushed hard. A reflection is underway on this subject, he informs. Amazon needs to review its copy. The elements underlined by the prefect must be taken into account in the development of their project. "