Michel Leclercq knighted in the National Order of Merit

Michel Leclercq knighted in the National Order of Merit
Michel Leclercq knighted in the National Order of Merit

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Editing News Pays de Redon

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Oct 15, 2024 at 3:02 a.m.

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Friday September 27, 2024, Michel Leclercqinitiator and founder of the association Citizen energies in the Vilaine region (EPV)of first citizen wind farm in Bégawatts, in Béganne, but also from the Shared Energy movement, received from the hands of Michel Cabaretdirector of the science centerthe medal making him a Knight of the National Order of Merit.

This distinction honors the journey of this retired teacher and visual artist70 years old, described as pioneer of citizen energy. It all started in 2002, in Redon, when a small conference on wind turbinesorganized by the Greens, allows a few people to discover the wind farms in function in Denmark and meet the local developer Resolvent.

“Energy issues and climate change have concerned me for a long time. This is why we have wishwith my wife, equip ourselves with a small individual wind turbine connected to the network, but it was too complicated », confides Michel Leclercq.

First citizen wind farm

In June 2002, with his friend Éric, a market gardener, they had the idea of take inspiration from the Danish model pour create a cooperative wind farm in Sainte-Anne-sur-Vilaine. An idea taken up on the fly by their friends and networks who find that the initiative is motivating and responds to theinertia of public authoritiesregarding environmental emergencies. They embark on the adventure and create theEPV association.

Elected officials, volunteers and employees of EPV and Shared Energy were present during the presentation of the medal to Michel Leclercq. (©D.R.)

Three objectives s are defined: create a cooperative wind farm pilot by the citizens and communities of the territory ; use the park as educational tool pour reduce energy consumption ; swarmexperience if successful.

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“Our beginnings allowed us to overcome obstacles, with the abandonment of the Sainte-Anne-sur-Vilaine site in 2004, Sainte-Marie in 2005, Renac and Saint-Just in 2006,” explains Michel. “In 2005, we explored two other sites, Béganne and to Guenrouët-Séverac . » The year 2009 mark one first victorywith obtaining the green light for the construction of the Béganne wind farm.

Electricity for 20,000 inhabitants

Finally, the initiators manage to involve morea thousand inhabitants, businesses in the region of Redon in the financing of the first citizen wind farm in France, to the tune of 12 million euroswhich was launched in 2014.

Furthermore, in 2010, Michel Leclercq was also at the initiative of the Shared Energy association, of which he took the presidency. Today she hosts 13 regional structures carrying projects . “Shared Energy has allowed us to change regulationsand of facilitate the involvement of municipalities and citizensin the recovery of energy issues by local actors. And the adventure continued throughout the years that followed with the opening of other sites. »

The opening of the first citizen wind farm was in fact followed by two others in the Redon region, one on horseback between Sévérac and Guenrouëtthe other to Avessac . Thirteen wind turbines, financed by 2,000 people and local authorities provide electricity for more than 20,000 residents each year.

“All these projects are accompanied by reflection and actions to broaden the field of action in a energy and societal transitionwith many partners. This adventure was carried out by dozens of volunteerswho joined us out of desire for alternative to nuclearin a constructive fightto participate in a local citizen project comprising an associative and entrepreneurial dynamic”, concludes the new knight of the National Order of Merit.

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