Can we multiply the declarations of good intentions against global warming at the COP26 in Glasgow (Scotland) and authorize the exploitation of a new fossil energy in France? This is the question asked, Wednesday, November 10, to the government by 66 elected representatives, deputies, senators, MEPs or mayors. This fossil energy is layer gas, methane today trapped in unexploited layers of coal that a company, the Française de l’énergie, wants to extract. Franceinfo provides an update on this issue in this article. The 66 signatories speak freely here.
We, local elected officials of Moselle; we, parliamentarians, ask the government not to authorize the concession for the exploitation of hydrocarbon mines known as “Concessions Bleue Lorraine” requested by the French energy company. We, elected officials from all walks of life, oppose the exploitation of new sources of fossil fuels.
This concession would concern 40 municipalities, on a territory of 191 square kilometers, and would allow this listed company to exploit layer gas, contained in coal seams, by 2040. We have not to date no real guarantee on the conditions of this exploitation requiring an unconventional technique, on the economic development which would result from it, and on the technical and financial capacities of this company.
What would be the impact on water resources, already affected by industrial chemical activities and by a rise in the water table linked to the end of mining?
What would be the impact on our living environment and on our soils, already hard hit by mining history and which in places suffer from major geological disorders?
Why authorize this gas project when feedback from seam gas drilling around the world shows dramatic repercussions?
And how to understand, finally, that we authorize, in 2021, the exploitation of a new source of hydrocarbons while our country must engage in the exit of its dependence on fossil fuels?
For this concession, a month-long public inquiry was conducted: it was carried out at a time when municipalities and citizens had many other emergencies to deal with. Most communities do not have the in-house expertise necessary to formulate an informed opinion. Therefore, the consultation should have been longer to allow them to carry out the necessary studies. Thus, only 14 municipalities out of the 40 concerned were able to deliberate within the allotted time.
We reject the development of a gas project which can only be harmful to the environment and the health of our fellow citizens.
We are working together for this territory, for its development, in the direction of a just and sustainable ecological transition, expected by all. It would ensure a sustainable future for future generations, without risking harm to natural balances.
The petitioners :
Christophe Arend – LREM deputy for the 6th district of Moselle
Gabriel Bastian – Mayor of Schoeneck
Gérard Bazin – mayor of Bionville-sur-Nied
Guy Benarroche – environmental senator from Bouches-du-Rhône
Bernard Betker – Mayor of Rosbruck
Claire Bouchet – LREM member of the 2nd district of Hautes-Alpes
Yannick Brohard – EELV Hauts-de-France regional advisor
Sebastien Clamme – Mayor of Lachambre
Jean-Charles Colas-Roy – LREM deputy of the 2nd constituency of Isère
Alexandre cousin – EELV Hauts-de-France regional advisor
Alain Dauendorffer – Mayor of Voelfling-lès-Bouzonville
Karima Delli – MEP EELV
Monique de Marco – Environmental Senator from the Gironde
Claire Desmares – Brittany EELV regional advisor
Laurent Dreyfus – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Christophe Dumont – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Julie dupuy – Brittany EELV regional advisor
Francois Ettenhuber – Mayor of Neunkirchen-lès-Bouzonville
Jacques Fernique – environmental senator from Bas-Rhin
Antoine Franke – Mayor of Vahl-Ebersing
Jean-Luc Fugit – LREM deputy in the 11th district of the Rhône
Evelyne Gareaux – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Cecile Germain-Ecuer – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Guillaume Gontard – environmental senator from Isère
Carole Grandjean – LREM member of the first constituency of Meurthe-et-Moselle
Laure Haag – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Brahim Hammouche – MoDem deputy of the 8th district of Moselle
Yannick Haury – LREM deputy for the 9th constituency of Loire-Atlantique
Joelle Hoffmann – Mayor of Merten
Thomas hutin – Hauts-de-France EELV regional advisor
Ralph klein – Mayor of Tenteling
Geraldine Krin – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Sandrine Le Fleur – LREM member of the 4th constituency of Finistère
Loïc Le Hir – Brittany EELV regional advisor
Benjamin Lucas – Hauts-de-France EELV regional advisor
Armand Marx – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Gil Mettai – Hauts-de-France EELV regional advisor
Marjolaine Meynier-Millefert – LREM member of the 10th constituency of Isère Emmanuel Michel – Mayor of Téterchen
Lou Noirclere – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Goulven Oillic – Brittany EELV regional advisor
Ludivine Perard – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Ronan Pichon – Brittany EELV regional advisor
Raymonde Poncet Monge – environmental senator of the Rhône and the metropolis of Lyon
Christine prigent – Brittany EELV regional advisor
Simone ramsaier – mayor of Béning-lès-Saint-Avold
Caroline reys – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Nicolas richard – EELV Hauts-de-France regional advisor
Eliane Romani – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Daniel Roth – Mayor of Zimming
Paulu Santu Parigi – environmental senator from Haute-Corse
Daniel Salmon – environmental senator from Ille-et-Vilaine
Gerard Schann – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Adrien scherer – Mayor of Rémering
Jean-François Secondé – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Jean-Marc Todeschini – PS senator from Moselle
Marine Tondelier – Hénin-Beaumont EELV municipal councilor
Marie Toussaint – MEP EELV
Elisabeth Toutut-Picard – LREM member of the 7th district of Haute-Garonne
Nicole trisse – LREM member of the 5th district of Moselle
Katy Vuylsteker – Hauts-de-France EELV regional advisor
Michael weber – mayor of Wœlfling-lès-Sarreguemines, PS Grand-Est regional councilor, president of the Federation of Regional Natural Parks of France
Jean-Paul Weistroffer – Mayor of Bibiche
Ghislain Wysocinski – EELV Grand Est regional councilor
Helene zannier – LREM member of the 7th district of Moselle
Christian Zwiebel – Mayor of Bambiderstroff