French Court Halts Wind Farm After Protected Eagle's Death

montpellier - French court orders wind park shutdown in Bernagues, Hérault, following steenarend's fatal collision. Companies fined for bird deaths.

French Court Halts Wind Farm After Protected Eagle's Death

The court in Montpellier orders the suspension of a wind park in Bernagues, Hérault, for a year to prevent further breaches. Energie Renouvelable du Languedoc (ERL) faces fines for the incident.

On January 10, 2023, a steenarend collided with a turbine blade, leading to its death. The incident revealed a malfunction in the bird detection system. The court also ordered the shutdown of another wind park in Aumelas due to bird deaths.

The steenarend, a protected species, was part of a nesting pair near the wind park. Environmental groups, including FNE, were civil parties in the case.