The association For the preservation of rural landscapes of Diou and its surroundings (PPRDE) has been disavowed. With a couple of local residents, she attacked the decree of the prefect of Indre, dated June 2022, authorizing the company Diou Energies to install three wind turbines in the town.
This subsidiary of Valorem – a French group specializing in “green energies” (wind, solar, hydrogen, etc.) – was nevertheless accused by its opponents of having presented a technical report “too general” et “insufficiently precise” to the local population. According to them, the document “undervalued” the impact of the wind farm on the protection of the Saint-Clément drinking water source, “attainment” extended to protected animal species, historical monuments and finally to villages in the area.
But the Regional Environmental Authority Mission (MrAE) has “generally praised” the quality of Valorem's impact study, recalls the Bordeaux administrative court of appeal in a judgment of November 14, 2024 which has just been made public. She had simply asked that she be “completed” with a “analysis of covisibilities” with the ancient fortified city of Lury-sur-Arnon (Cher) and the Saint-Michel collegiate church of Chârost (Cher). But the impact will ultimately be “very weak” for the first and « nul » for the second, according to this study.
The administrative court of appeal of Bordeaux also recalls that the “risk of pollution” of the Saint-Clément drinking water source, which supplies 3,100 inhabitants of the sector, will be “very weak”. “It is due to a risk of oil leaking linked to deterioration of the installation, for which retention devices are provided in order to prevent possible accidental releases”explain the Bordeaux judges. He is also « probable » that such a leak does not reach the source, according to a hydrogeologist, “in view of the lithological characteristics of the Buzançais Limestone formation”. This expert had under these conditions given a favorable opinion to the project, as did the Regional Health Agency (ARS) Center – Val-de-Loire.
No “particularly remarkable” natural site in the surrounding area
The risk « fort » collision between bats and wind turbine blades has for its part become ” weak “ after Valorem committed to taking “reduction measures” like a “park night lighting”and “bridling” of its wind turbines and the “replanting 80 meters of linear hedges”. “The decree of the prefect of Indre also provides that the work cannot take place between 1is March and August 15 »notes the court. “The different arrangements […] must be carried out with the aim of preserving wooded areas. »
The Bordeaux judges also dismissed the fears of opponents concerning “rational use of energy” : these three wind turbines would, according to the applicants, have “negative effect” on neighboring parks “with regard to taking the sale” which will generate “a loss of energy that can be produced by the wake effect”.
“If the impact study indeed reveals the existence of a wake effect, it assesses the losses […] at 0.4% for the Reuilly and Diou parks, 0.8% for the Aubigeon park and 2.8% for the Pelures Blanches park »details the administrative court of appeal of Bordeaux. Of the “losses that can […] be seen as weak” in the eyes of Bordeaux magistrates.
Opponents of the project need not fear any “harm to landscapes”according to the administrative court of appeal. “The majority of the territory is made up of vast open agricultural plots with large forest areas, without any particularly remarkable natural site. » The opponents, who were therefore dismissed, have until January 15, 2025 to appeal to the Council of State.
140 wind turbines within a 10 kilometer radius
The fact remains that the three wind turbines will be installed in a “context of extremely high density” in terms of wind turbines since « 140 » were counted in “a radius of 10 kilometers”according to their opponents. “This indeed results from the investigation but this observation alone cannot be sufficient to characterize an attack on the landscapes”replied the court. “The three wind turbines will be installed in an environment that is already heavily anthropized [modifié par l’homme, NDLR] by the presence of high voltage lines and especially numerous wind turbines in a comparable scale ratio”specifies the court. “The attack […] to the surrounding landscapes therefore does not appear significant. »
The “sensitivity” of the Valorem project on the White Tower of Issoudun will be thus “very weak” even if it is located “in the city center on a rocky promontory” : of ” many “ wind farms are in fact “already visible” from the top of the tower. In addition, that of Valorem will be located “in the background” of that of the White Pelts. The visual impact will also be “insignificant” for the Château de Paudy, and even « nul » concerning the commandery of Ormeteau.
The impact will, however, be « fort » concerning “isolated habitat” of Xaintes since the three wind turbines will be “erected in the foreground and at a relatively short distance”. “However, they will be part of an environment already marked by the presence of a high voltage line and the alignment of five wind generators from another park”positive the administrative court of appeal of Bordeaux.
