Opened on September 9, the public debate on the Horizeo mega solar park project in Saucats, south of Bordeaux (Gironde), has reached its midpoint. 20 minutes takes stock with the chairman of the special committee for public debate (CPDB) Jacques Archimbaud, responsible in particular for supervising public meetings around this project led by Engie and Neoen.
“There is interest in this debate, even if there is a lot of mistrust, criticism, on the part of the citizens,” summarizes Jacques Archimbaud. The main questions from the public relate to the size of the infrastructure, which is said to be among the largest in Europe, and the apparent contradiction of this project which consists of fighting against climate change, while destroying 1,000 hectares of forest… However, doors are open, because people are also convinced that it is necessary to make photovoltaics for environmental questions, knowing that the forest of the Landes de Gascogne is not the Amazonian forest either… ”
“The feeling of a proliferation of projects carried out without regulation”
The debate especially allowed during these first two months, to wonder if the New Aquitaine region needs this electricity of renewable origin. “The answer is rather yes because the needs will grow in the coming years” assures the president of the CPDP. Another question that has often come up: can we not be satisfied with scattered projects, on the roofs of buildings, in parking lots? “Clearly, that will not be enough, considers Jacques Archimbaud. For all that, do we need a project of such magnitude? Couldn’t 300 or 600 ha be enough? This question will come up in the second part of the debate, but there is the feeling of a proliferation of projects carried out without regulation, and this worries. “
The subject of the artificialization of soils, which the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region has undertaken to limit in the coming years, is also part of the public’s concerns. “It is up to the State and the communities to answer this question, because behind there is an issue of global vision and of choice between several development projects which are currently being carried out” estimates, at this stage of the survey public, Jacques Archimbaud. Knowing that the route of the extension of the LGV to the south, would not pass very far …
Will the general public also be able to connect to the power plant?
The economic impacts of such a project also question. “What the general public has learned is that the panels are made in China, and the questions asked relate to the possible development of a regional industrial photovoltaic sector. “
Finally, the general public also asks what the repercussions would be for them. “The goal of the project is to provide renewable electricity to manufacturers, to decarbonize their energy production,” recalls the president of the CPDP. Until recently, there was no question of the general public being able to connect to this plant. However, there was an opening of the project owner on this question. “
The project “would be better accepted if it were mixed in terms of its governance”
In the end, the project “would be better accepted if it were mixed in terms of its governance, so that it is not perceived as a purely financial operation, analyzes Jacques Archimbaud. In the field of photovoltaics, people have in mind the salespeople who canvass them every day to come and install solar panels on their roofs, they have the impression that this environment is quite opaque, and the hypothesis that communities participate in the project [permettrait certainement de rassurer]. “
The second part of the debate, until January, will focus on the environmental impact on the Landes de Gascogne forest. “We will bring studies to analyze this site as closely as possible, but all forests do not provide the same advantages, and there is a debate on the value of this land, underlines Jacques Archimbaud, even if the environmental association Sepanso supports that nothing is worse than tearing up a forest, and that there is no difference to be made between so-called ordinary nature, and exceptional nature… ”