In Saint-Julien-la-Genête, a Creuse village of some 220 inhabitants, a divisive project. That of nine farmers, grouped together in a company called Methagenete, which aims to install a methanizer in the town. Building, which would extend over two hectares, would be used to transform organic matter from their farms into methane. But some residents, hostile to the project, have recently started a petition.
If they affirm not to refuse the principle of such an installation, these opponents demand the move of the future biogas plant. According to them, the land chosen, a plot of 2.5 hectares, is far too close to the homes of Saint-Julien-la-Genête. “Look, nothing gets in the way” the landscape today, underlines Michel. This resident, treasurer of the young association “La Genête peaceful”, created on January 10 to denounce the location of the methanizer, regrets “that they want to set it up 250 meters from the houses. It’s not going at all. We are rural people, we are quiet here”he insists.
“The main concern is the tranquility of the village”, Frédéric Martin
– Margot Turgy
lose their peacethis is precisely one of the main concerns of the members of the association “La Genête peaceful”. “When you come to settle in the countryside, you aspire to a quiet life, and not to end up with an industrial methanisation site and all the inconveniences that go with it: noise, incessant passages of tractors… It’s fine multiply the traffic by eight, and I fear accidents” on the departmental D996 which borders the village, predicts Frédéric Martin, resident of Saint-Julien-la-Genête for 20 years and president of the association of opponents. “We already have a lot of passage currently with the farmers, we say to ourselves that we will have even more”regrets Babette, also a member of the association. “And I think, unfortunately, that it will create controversy in relation to our commune”adds this resident of the village for 40 years.
– Margot Turgy
Anaerobic digestion, “virtuous circle” or “false good idea”?
Controversies on the project, the president of the company Metagene didn’t expect it. First, on the choice of plot, Jean-François Aucouturier explains that it “is the central point of the nine farms involved in the project. Because one of the challenges is to limit travel and transport to a minimum”explains this operator of suckler cattle in Évaux-les-Bains since 1991.
As for concerns about increased traffic in the townJean-François Aucouturier replies that the biogas plant will need “50 tons of effluent per day, which represents two trucks per day. There will therefore not be an extraordinary increase in traffic. And all the plots around Saint-Julien-la-Genête are operated by farmers who are part of the project, on which they are already bringing their manure. It will not change the territory at all”he says.
– Margot Turgy
“The objective is also to enter into the energy transition, because today there are important energy issues. It’s a virtuous circle, which allows to diversify our agricultural activities, and to manage livestock effluents in a more rational way while earning additional income”adds Jean-François Aucouturier. A Refuted Argument by the president of “La Genête peaceful”: “Anaerobic digestion is a false good idea. In this case, it only saves 4.5% of greenhouse gas emissions, and the soil will be impoverished”says Frédéric Martin.
Commissioning planned for 2024
Residents are also wondering about the “smells” that the biogas plant could generate. Jean-Paul talks about “lack of respect for local residents. This risks causing nuisance, first of all olfactory, and nothing more”. For this resident, living in Saint-Julien-la-Genête since the summer of 2021, “when you want to do something like that, you do it at home, not next to other people’s houses”. Without forgetting possible impact on tourism, which Anuska Nockolds fears. This Dutchwoman, who has been living in Creuse for 13 years, runs three gites with her husband. “Tourism, for the Creuse, is very important. Imagine for people who are here on vacation or for spa guests, if you have smells” generated by the methanizer, “It’s not very pleasant”.
“The objective is also to enter into the energy transition”, Jean-François Aucouturier
On the side of the farmers involved in the project, we point the finger “comfort” that the inhabitants would refuse to leave. “When a pigsty is set up, for example, people want to eat pigs, but they don’t want the pigsty near their home. It’s the same thing there”compares Luc Victor, who currently operates the plot reserved for the future biogas plant. “It’s everyone’s environment. And it’s complicated to communicate”he regrets.
The sale of the plot intended for the future biogas plant is in any case in progress. Estimated at 6 million eurosconstruction should begin in 2023, with commissioning scheduled for 2024. The gas produced will initially be used to supply the neighboring department of Allier.