After several years of development and administrative procedures, the Bel Coster wind farm project is now entering the crucial public review phase. The plans foresee nine wind turbines, each with an output of 3 to 4 MW. The site of the wind farm will lie in the municipalities of L’Abergement, Ballaigues and Lignerolle in the Northern Jura district of the Swiss canton of Vaud. The wind farm is expected to generate 70 million kWh per year, which is equivalent to the consumption of approximately 18,000 households.
Local and sustainable electricity
The canton of Vaud has included Bel Coster in its strategic structural plan. The wind farm will contribute towards supplying the region and the canton with local and sustainable electricity. In order to ensure that the wind farm is implemented in a responsible manner and to minimise the impact on the local population and the environment, several impact studies were carried out. The project will incorporate exemplary wildlife protection measures. The overall plan has received the approval from the competent cantonal authorities.
To ensure that the local population is informed in the best possible way, information events will be organised in L’Abergement, Ballaigues and Lignerolle, during which representatives of the local municipal councils, the canton of Vaud, Alpiq and the engineering company KohleNusbaumer will answer any questions. Moreover, throughout the entire public review phase, the project details will be accessible in all three municipalities. Due to the close vicinity of the Bel Coster site to the French border, the French Doubs Prefecture is coordinating a consultation process in France, which is running in parallel to the Swiss process.
Alpiq strengthens its position in profitable growth sectors
The development of new renewable energies and the transition of conventional customers towards becoming "prosumers" represent new and complex challenges for the energy sector infrastructure. Hence, Alpiq is focusing on profitable growth sectors, which include the regulated, new renewable energies. Already today, Alpiq is offering innovative services in response to this trend towards decentralised electricity supply and storage.
Accessibility of project plans during the public review phase (14 March to 12 April 2017):
L’Abergement: Mondays from 19:00 to 20:00 and Thursdays from 09:00 to 11:00
Ballaigues: Mondays from 15:30 to 17:30, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 15:30 to 17:30; Fridays from 10:00 to 12:00
Lignerolle: Wednesdays from 13:30 to 18:30 or by telephone appointment (+41 79 441 48 58)
Information events at the local council offices:
Lignerolle: Thursday, 16 March from 19:00 to 21:00
L’Abergement: Tuesday, 21 March from 17:00 to 20:00
Ballaigues: Wednesday, 22 March from 17:00 to 20:00
Learn more about the Bel Coster project on www.belcoster.ch