In the first instance, judges rejected complaints lodged by the environmental association against the one-off reclassification of the general development plan of Bissen and the corresponding approvals from the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of the Environment.
Although the administrative court ruled that a strategic environmental assessment (SUP) of the site had been completed, Mouveco complained there was no information regarding the data centre's potential water consumption. The organisation claimed the future water consumption could represent between five and ten percent of the Grand Duchy's total consumption. Google failed to dispute this claim.
However, the judges ruled that the Google project was not yet complete and therefore could not identify possible issues. In a press conference on Wednesday, Mouveco's lawyer, Thibault Chevrier, said once the project was complete, it would be too late. Mouveco president Blanche Weber added that the judges had time to change the ruling.
Even if the Mouvement Ecologique appeal fails a second time, said Weber, it would highlight the need for change regarding Luxembourg laws concerning the protection of the environment.
Mouvement écologique 'disappointed' by administrative court ruling
