The largest wind farm launched to date on the Vaud ridges has just taken a first step. The Cantonal Court accepts the weighing of interest.
Posted: 09.06.2020, 8:11 p.m.—
–The Mollendruz project is a mastodon of Vaud wind power. The largest, to date, arrived on the judges’ desk. If he promises to produce 5 to 8% of the Canton’s objectives in terms of wind energy, it is also one of the most visible, and he does not hide it, after having reviewed several times the implementation of propellers to minimize the impact. Here, a view from Romainmôtier, a classified site. Not incompatible, according to the judges.
Natural Energy of Mollendruz SA
If there is an after-Covid, it may well be running on wind turbines. The cantonal court validated, Monday, the allocation plan of the Mollendruz wind farm. This project of twelve 85 million propellers, planned on this ridge overlooking the Vaud plateau, is reputed to be a major producer of energy (5 to 8% of the Canton’s expectations in wind power), but also one of the most visible. On a clear day, perhaps even at night, the park will be in the corner of the eye of a good number of Vaudois.
This verdict was expected. A new generation wind project, less dated than the pioneering projects launched sometimes twenty years ago, the Mollendruz park has been able to evolve until recently, refining its communication, its business plan and its compensation measures. However, he suffered and was nearly cut off by opponents in early 2018. As a reminder, one of the villages concerned by the park had voted no, for a handful of votes. Supporters of the project then cited “a lack of information” on the part of La Praz voters to call a new ballot, this time positive for another handful of votes.
Aeolian blank
The judges were clearer. “This is a fairly one-sided stop. The Court validates the work and the seriousness of the file, and this on the whole line “, notes the municipal energy of Yverdon (the City is part, with EWZ and the neighboring villages, of the operating company), Pierre Dessemontet .
We can however feel that the judges were sometimes quick to work on certain aspects, relying a lot on the jurisprudence of Sainte-Croix and on the Confederation’s Energy Strategy 2050, which gives renewable energy a national priority. From now on, the world of wind power is only waiting for the verdict of the Federal Court on, precisely, Sainte-Croix, to find out if the Vaudois program – 19 parks, more than 120 propellers, projected on the territory – does indeed hold the road.
Doubts remained. Two or three of which the Mollendruz has just dissipated. Even with gross production revised downwards (we are now talking about a third of the energy lost by technical stops, during the passage of migratory birds, etc.) and even with its prominent impact in the panorama, the project, as weighed by the Canton, is valid in view of the challenges of the energy transition.
–The park as it will be seen from Mont-la-Ville.
Natural Energy of Mollendruz SA
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–A view from Vaulion.
Natural Energy of Mollendruz SA
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–Another photomontage, but opponents this time. A view from Echallens.
Vaud Free Landscape.
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At the landscape level, the Court considers that the first corners concerned, such as the Orb plain and the Gros-de-Vaud, are places already modified by human activity and are likely to evolve. For legally protected sites, such as Petra Felix or Romainmôtier, the judges noted that their preservation does not specifically exclude wind turbines from the radar, or does not provide for buffer zones.
In terms of the impact on wildlife (lark lark, woodcock or great tetra), the court noted that areas of prime importance were not affected – only occasional or potential places of passage – and that compensation measures suffice.
This is the first judgment since the State Councilor Béatrice Métraux, whose party is notoriously divided on the wind issue, is in command of the Department of the Environment and Energy. She does not comment on the procedure and the file in progress, subject to appeal.
And he is preparing. Jean-Marc Blanc, secretary general of Free Landscape Vaud sighs. “It was expected. Our arguments were simply not heard. The judges validate a project that will have enormous visibility, without further study. We can sense in the federal speech that Bern is constantly reducing its wind energy targets. While Vaud is almost alone. ”
Posted: 09.06.2020, 8:11 p.m.-
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