Another stage victory for Quatre Bornes wind farm
The initiators of the Quatre Bornes wind farm have achieved an important victory as the Federal Court rejected the complaint against a new vote. The municipality of Sonvilier will now vote on the district plan on September 22, equivalent to a building permit. The wind farm will include a total of nine wind turbines.
The initiators of the Quatre Bornes bicantonal wind farm have achieved another stage victory. According to a statement, the Federal Supreme Court has rejected the appeal by opponents to repeat the vote on the wind farm in Sonvilier.
The municipality of Sonvilier can now vote again on the neighbourhood plan on 22 September. This is equivalent to a building permit for the wind farm. The voters of Sonvilier rejected the wind farm on 27 September 2020 with a narrow majority of 289 no votes to 285 yes votes. A municipal initiative launched in December 2021 called for the vote to be repeated.
In August 2023, the Neuchâtel cantonal court rejected an objection to the planned wind turbines in the Neuchâtel part of the wind farm in the municipality of Val de Ruz.
The Quatre Bornes wind farm is being planned by the two municipalities as well as 23 farmers and others. Groupe E is investing in the project through its subsidiary greenwatt. The first wind measurements were taken in 2006. The wind farm is to generate 63 million kilowatt hours per year with three wind turbines in Val de Ruz and six in Sonvilier.