Three more wind turbines in this corner of Indre where there are already 140 within a 10 km radius

The Association for the Preservation of Rural Landscapes of Diou and its Surroundings (PPRDE) and a couple of local residents have just been disavowed by the administrative court of appeal of Bordeaux (Gironde).

Justice has indeed just validated the order of the prefect of Indre which had authorized in June 2022 the Diou Energies company to be established three wind turbines in the town.

A report deemed “too general and imprecise” by opponents

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 “underestimated” the impact of the wind farm on the protection of the drinking water source Saint-Clément, the “attack” on the protected animal speciesto historical monuments and finally to villages in the area.

A simple request for additional information on the analysis of “covisibilities”

But the Regional Environmental Authority Mission (MrAE) “generally welcomed” the quality of the Valorem impact studyrecalls the administrative court of appeal of Bordeaux in a judgment of November 14, 2024 which has just been made public.

She had simply asked for it to be “completed” with a “ analysis of covisibilities » with the old fortified city of Lury-sur-Arnon (Dear) and the Saint-Michel collegiate church of Chârost (Dear). However, the impact will ultimately be “very weak” for the first and “zero” for the second, according to this study.

A “very low” risk of pollution of the drinking water source

The administrative court of appeal of Bordeaux also recalls that the “ risk of pollution » from the Saint-Clément drinking water source, which supplies 3,100 inhabitants of the sectorwill 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.

It is also “probable” that such a leak would not reach the source, according to a hydrogeologist, “given the lithological characteristics of the Buzançais Limestone formation”. This expert had under these conditions given a favorable opinion on the project, just like theRegional Health Agency (ARS) Centre-Val-de-Loire.

Protective measures to preserve bats

The “high” risk of collision between bat and the blades of wind turbines became “weak” after Valorem committed to taking “reduction measures” as a “ night lighting of the park« , and « clamping » of its wind turbines and the “replanting of 80 meters of linear hedges”.

The order from the prefect of Indre also provides that the work cannot take place between March 1 and August 15. The various developments (…) must be carried out with the aim of preserving the wooded areas.

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The Bordeaux judges also dismissed the fears of opponents regarding the “rational use of energy”. According to the applicants, these three wind turbines would have a “negative effect” on neighboring parks “with regard to the wind intake” which will generate “ a loss of producible energy by 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 d’Aubigeon and 2.8% for the Pelures Blanches park. Losses which can (…) be considered low.

“No harm to landscapes”

Opponents of the project also need not fear any “harm to the landscape”, according to the Bordeaux administrative court of appeal.

“The majority of the territory is made up of large agricultural plots open with significant forest massifs, without a particularly remarkable natural site. »

But a context of very high density of wind turbines

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 within “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 already heavily anthropized environment. [modifié par l’Homme, ndlr] by the presence of high voltage lines and especially numerous wind turbines in a comparable scale ratio. The damage (…) to the surrounding landscapes therefore does not appear significant.

Little impact on the White Tower of Issoudun

The “sensitivity” of the Valorem project on the White Tower of Issoudun will thus be “very weak” even if it is located “ in the city center on a rocky promontory« .

“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 Pelures Blanches. The visual impact will also be “not very significant” for the Paudy castleand even “null” regarding the commandery of Ormeteau.

But the three wind turbines will be in the foreground in Xaintes

On the other hand, the impact will be “strong” concerning the “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 by the alignment of five wind turbines from another park”, intends to affirm the Bordeaux administrative court of appeal. The opponents, who were therefore rejected, have until January 15, 2025 to refer the matter to the Council of State.

GF (PressPepper for Orléans news)

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