Meurthe-et-Moselle: Residents of Lunévillois stand up against a wind turbine installation project

"Imagine over there: the trees are 15-20 meters tall. The wind turbines would be 180 meters tall!" project Dominique David and another Deuxville resident, pointing to the site where a wind farm could be built. They and other Deuxville neighbors (four to five households) have filed an appeal with the administrative court as individuals and are considering forming a collective.

Vensolair, a company part of the CNR group (the group that originally developed the Rhône River and its hydraulic exploitation), plans to install up to six wind turbines on farmland between Deuxville and Bonviller. A measuring mast will be erected very soon for a period of one to two years, to obtain data on wind, temperature, and bats.

"They want to build wind turbines, but we're not in a favorable zone for wind energy development," says Dominique David, showing one of the maps of the regional climate, air, and energy plan he found on the DREAL website. The company responds that Deuxville's elected officials voted for the creation of this zone on their territory in 2023. Another argument from opponents: the proximity of a listed site, the Léomont.

Several government departments have expressed reservations about this project, as reported at the last municipal council meeting. "Vensolair is continuing to study the project, partly because the pre-feasibility study showed significant wind power potential in these municipalities," explains Guillaume Richard, the company's project manager, "but also because the elected officials of both municipalities voted in favor of the project and filed a renewable energy acceleration zone in 2023."

"I oppose the location and the very principle of wind turbines," explains Dominique David. In addition to the performance (see opposite), he mentions "the view, the noise, and the waves: I've done research on that. And the houses will lose 30% of their value." Elements that Vensolair largely denies: "In a study published in May 2022 by ADEME at the national level, it is clearly described that 'the impact of wind power on real estate is zero or very low for houses sold over the period 2015-2020.' Wind turbines do not emit dangerous electromagnetic waves. The risk only exists inside the turbines, in direct proximity to the electrical components."

Regarding noise, the engineer in charge of the project assures that "an acoustic analysis will be conducted in the winter of 2025/2026 to estimate the noise potential of the wind turbines and implement acoustic barriers if necessary. French regulations are particularly conservative on this subject. Finally, if the wind farm is built, a new analysis will be carried out to ensure the farm's compliance."

"This project will have an impact on the residents, but also on the landscape and wildlife. Between the hill and the Léomont, there's a corridor for wild cranes ," the two residents complain. "The communes of Deuxville and Bonviller are located on the edge of a secondary corridor," assures Vensolair, who adds that studies have begun on this subject.

"Wind turbines are part of a public utility approach, as they will contribute to our energy sovereignty over the next thirty years," emphasizes the project manager. He points out that energy consumption is increasing in our country. "This project, if approved, will provide the equivalent of approximately 9,000 homes with renewable electricity locally and will generate significant tax revenue for the municipalities and the community of municipalities."

The two opponents fear that other residents will wake up too late. "I've been sending letters to the town hall for a year and a half. No response. Just unsatisfactory verbal responses," notes Dominique David. These letters have been sent since the information meeting on the renewable energy project in November 2023.

Vensolair plans to hold meetings, in addition to the information letters it has already sent to residents. Various studies have begun. A public inquiry will be conducted before the prefect signs the refusal or authorization order.