Codognan A citizen photovoltaic project at the Caveau d'Héraclès

Bringing forward ecology concretely while profitable by its investment is the bet tempted by the Actte cooperative.His first project: equip the 2,000m2 roofs of the Heraclès cellar with solar panels.Enough to produce electricity for 340 people, excluding heating and hot water.

In the Gard, there is no shortage of citizen and ecological initiatives.Created in 2014, the Aubais Flying Association has managed to bring about a completely self -funded photovoltaic park project on the site of the former municipal recycling center.Since then, the initiative has been emulated and several other associations pursuing the same objective have been created in the department.

"We have all gathered around Actte, which means citizen accelerator for a territory in energy transition," says Cécile Rousseau, in charge of communication within this new structure.The cooperative has been newly created and a first major project is up to the Caveau d'Héraclès.»»

This cellar, located in Codognan, has been engaged in the production of organic wines since 1994 and wishes to install solar panels on its roof."We share the same values," appreciates Cécile Rousseau.They could have called on a private installer, but they chose to associate citizens by calling on us.Concretely, the cellar will rent its roof to Actte which takes care of financial and administrative responsibility as well as the installation of the panels.Electricity will be sold in Enercoop.

A call for eco-investors

To manage to set up these panels by spring 2022, ACTTE must mobilize € 350,000.Part of the amount could be gathered thanks to a bank loan, but Actte is mainly launched into a large fundraising.Or rather a call for citizen investment."This is a money placement which is not only ethical but as much better paid as the booklet A," argues Cécile Rousseau.The partners' current account pays investors each year, whether or not there are profits.As for the use of the latter, everything is decided at the general meeting.Each partner has a voice, whatever the height of his investment.»»

Now, Actte hopes to convince enough eco-investors to bring together € 200,000.While subscriptions have only been open for a week, the cooperative already has around twenty partners."I am not worried," says Cécile Rousseau.For the Aubais project, we even had to refuse people once the funds are gathered!»»

Boris Boutet

A public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 14, at 6 p.m., in the Salle de la République, in Vergèze.The project will be presented.Participants will be able to know all the methods of subscription.More information on the Actte website.