Public meeting for heating plant project

The closing meeting for the Thermo-sur-Seine heating plant project takes place on Thursday, October 29, in Vitry-sur-Seine. Residents can still submit their observations until November 1, before a municipal vote in December.

Meeting details and location

The meeting, scheduled from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the town hall of Vitry-sur-Seine, marks the final collective stage of a consultation that began in early September. The municipality of Vitry-sur-Seine specifies the times and address of the meeting at 2, avenue Youri-Gagarine.

Overview of the heating plant project

The project concerns a heat production plant planned for the site of the former EDF Ardoines thermal power station in Vitry. It would be fueled in part by solid recovered fuels derived from prepared waste and by recovered wood known as "wood B." A transfer platform between the road and the Seine would also be built in Ris-Orangis, in the Essonne, to transport these fuels to Vitry via the river.

Project scale and cost

The official file from the National Public Consultation Commission (CNDP) describes, at the stage of submission, three heat production lines of 111 MW each, on a site of approximately 6.7 hectares. The estimated cost of the project is set at 1.2 billion euros.

Goals and impact on energy use

The project managers present the installation as a means of reducing the dependence of the Greater Paris heating network on gas. According to the presentation by the project owner, the project aims to reduce the share of gas from 50% to 22% and increase the share of renewable and recovered energies from 50% to 76%.

Resident concerns and consultation

For residents of Ardoines and neighboring communes, the questions mainly concern atmospheric emissions, the nature of the fuels, the traffic required for their transportation, and the effects of the project on heating costs. The consultation file allows for a confrontation between the goals set by the project owner and the concerns of residents, associations, and local authorities.

Consultation process and guarantees

The official consultation platform allows for submitting an opinion, a proposal, or a question, with or without indicating one's identity. Paper registers are also available in several municipalities in the area, including Vitry-sur-Seine, Choisy-le-Roi, Alfortville, and Maisons-Alfort.

Municipal involvement and upcoming steps

In Vitry-sur-Seine, the national consultation is accompanied by a municipal initiative. The municipal council expressed its opposition to the project as it stands in May, requesting additional guarantees regarding health and the environment. The City announces hearings with the collectives on November 10, with Dalkia on November 16, and with the project's supporting company on November 19.

Timeline for local consultation

The municipality will then organize, on December 6, a vote open to Vitry residents aged at least 16 years. This local consultation will serve to express the participants' positions and to inform the municipality's actions toward the project owner and competent authorities.

Final steps before environmental approval

Until then, the public meeting this Thursday and the submission of observations until November 1 constitute the last opportunities to contribute to the preliminary consultation phase guaranteed by the CNDP. The report published in December should summarize the arguments collected before the project's responsible parties specify the follow-up actions.