Green light given for 110 new wind turbines in Deux Sevres, Poitou Charentes

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Poitou-Charentes is playing catch-up when it comes to wind power, but all is about to change with building permits being granted for 110 new machines in the north and south of Deux Sevres, with more projects in the pipeline.

Thirty-two projects have been given the go-ahead in Deux Sevres, where only 9 turbines are currently sited, which will massively increase wind power production in the region.  Poitou Charentes currently only has 73 turbines installed overall, and lags behind many other regions in wind-energy output.

Only a small proportion of the approved projects in Deux Sevres have so far been realised, with 4 machines in operation at Graliére (near Mauléon and Saint-Amand-sur-Sèvre), and a further 5 at -Germain-de-Longue-Chaume and Saint-Martin-lès-Melle.  Work is set to start at Trayes this October.

Twelve further applications are also in the pipeline, which if approved would add a further thirty turbines to the Deux Sevres landscape.  Most recently granted was permission to build a new wind-farm at Vernoux-en-Gâtine, where opposition failed to stop the project from progressing.

So far Deux Sevres has rejected nine applications, with two proposed projects at Saint-Martin-de-Fouilloux and Saint-Pompain thwarted this year.  For the latter, this was the second time the commune has fought and won against proposed projects of this type.

Energy companies continue to explore further sites in the region, with RP Global looking to site six turbines at Aigonnay, Prailles and Romans.  Last week an administrative tribunal in Poitiers rejected the objections of the Charente Maritime prefecture to two new proposed sites at Saint-Mandé-sur-Brédoire and Fontaines d'Yves, and whilst a decision has not yet been made there is a strong likelihood that these projects will be given the green light.

Wind power currently provides electricity for around 4.3% of the population in Poitou-Charentes, from 14 separate wind-farms.

For all the facts and figures on wind-power, check out thewindpower.net which offers comprehensive stats on current output.  Wind power is a controversial subject, and for opponents of new wind-farms the EPAW website gives details of the battles taking place across Europe.

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