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Wind turbines in the Gironde estuary, EDF is backing down

2021-09-14T16:31:30.927Z


Forty masts were to be installed in Gironde and Charente-Maritime, on the banks of the estuary. Faced with strong opposition, EDF Ren


This file is undoubtedly one of the thorniest in Charente-Maritime as in Gironde.

Contested by local elected officials and their constituents, the Blayais wind farm project - forty masts built along the Gironde estuary - may not see the light of day, at least in this form.

The project leader, EDF Renouvelables, still recognizes it only lip service but confirms that it is working on a new copy.

“Public meetings held in 2019 (…) enabled us to better take into account the aspirations of the territory.

The territorial dialogue therefore leads us to consider changing the initial project towards an innovative energy mix project ”, only concedes this EDF subsidiary contacted by

Le Parisien

.

On the migratory bird route

The Blayais project has aroused anger and concern since its first media coverage.

"We learned about it in 2017. It had been developed since 2014. Everything was done under wraps," recalls Jean-François Mazzocchi, mayor of Saint-Dizant-du-Gua (Charente-Maritime) and fierce opponent of this Park.

To read also In Oléron, the wind project offers a debate before its time

The objective of EDF Renouvelables was initially to produce the equivalent of “the annual domestic consumption of 100,000 to 150,000 inhabitants”. Wind turbines have been installed in the immediate vicinity of the Blayais nuclear power plant, in Gironde. Others would have been established in the marshes as far as Charente-Maritime. Problem, insists the elected: "We are in one of the most important bird migration corridors in Europe! "Jean-François Mazzocchi also evokes the impact on the heritage of the estuary - where the Cordouan lighthouse is located, classified by Unesco in July - and on biodiversity:" Our village has an original marsh of 500 hectares. He is small but very rich. But to install a wind turbine in this marsh, it would have been necessary to dig roads there,to build much more important bases there than elsewhere! "

A 50 hectare photovoltaic panel project

Relieved by this first setback, the mayor of Saint-Dizant-du-Gua remains “cautious” despite everything. EDF never gives up… ”In fact, this subsidiary could turn to photovoltaics. A 50 hectare project would thus be under study, in addition to a few wind turbines still in use near the nuclear power plant. “This project would be more acceptable. His first version was totally absurd. Fortunately, the classification of the Cordouan lighthouse complicates everything now, ”says LREM deputy Raphaël Gérard, who is currently fighting in the National Assembly to impose more transparency on operators. “EDF Renouvelables has signed lease promises behind the backs of local elected officials. This is the best method to rob people and block any project in this country, ”said the parliamentarian.

Among the other avenues studied by the EDF subsidiary would also include tidal power and hydrogen, recalls Jean-François Mazzocchi. EDF Renouvelables did not wish to comment further on the components of its future “energy mix”. "Our teams plan to detail it to the territory at a later date", assures the subsidiary.

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2021-09-14

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