Last autumn, the canton of Vaud approved the partial utilisation plan for the Bel Coster wind farm, which provides for the installation of nine wind turbines in the Swiss Jura-Nord Vaudois district. This decision had been pending for several months and it confirms that the wind farm has been developed in a professional manner and in compliance with legal standards.
At the beginning of December, an appeal was filed against this decision with the Vaud Cantonal Court. This appeal was lodged by national and regional associations for the protection of the environment and the countryside, as well as by individuals.
In spite of the pending decision, the development of the project continues. Alpiq has complete confidence in the work carried out by the specialists and authorities involved in the project, in particular the partner municipalities and the canton of Vaud. Hence, the documents required to obtain the building permit and the authorisation to connect the wind farm to the electricity grid are being prepared at the same time as the legal proceedings.
The Bel Coster wind farm will have a very positive impact on the environment, especially thanks to targeted measures to improve the habitats of various endangered species. The local and renewable electricity it will generate will also reduce electricity imports, thereby preventing the release of around 85 tonnes of CO2 per day, which equates to the emissions of three flights from Geneva to Barcelona.
