National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Proposed French offshore zone shelved

New environment minister Nicolas Hulot has suspended consultations taking place over the proposed Bassure de Baas offshore zone, for up to 40 turbines, off Boulogne.

The decision raises fears the site, which WPD Offshore had been developing a project for since 2008, will be abandoned.

The move comes following a negative report by the regional and maritime authorities, who oppose the site on environmental and economic grounds.

Noting the lack of consensus, “the conditions favourable to launching a call for tenders on the Bassure de Baas zone are not present at this stage,” the authorities said.

Hulot decided to suspend the consultations in order to “encourage the emergence under favourable conditions of other projects in progress” while continuing “to reflect on the cumulative impact of offshore wind farms,” according to the authorities.

The decision is strongly contested by the mayor of Boulogne, who called on the minister to “stay the course in developing marine renewable energies, where he himself recognises the need to speed deployment”.