Biogas as a legacy. Mobilizations around an energy "deposit" in an urban landfill (Montreal, 1986-2009)

Cet article revient sur la mise en place controvers & eacute;e d'une centrale urbaine de biogaz de 1986 & agrave; 1996 & agrave; Montr & eacute;al ainsi que sur ses premi & egrave;res ann & eacute;es de fonctionnement, jusqu'& agrave; la fermeture en 2009 de la d & eacute;charge Miron & agrave; qui elle doit son existence. Son objectif est tout & agrave; la fois de contribuer & agrave; une histoire environnementale de Montr & eacute;al, et de questionner les potentialit & eacute;s et les impasses des projets techniques vou & eacute;s & agrave; transformer un h & eacute;ritage toxique en ressource & eacute;nerg & eacute;tique. L'analyse de ce cas r & eacute;v & egrave;le une reproduction d'in & eacute;galit & eacute;s environnementales par des infrastructures << vertes >>, signant l'& eacute;chec d'une tentative pour compenser des nuisances disproportionnellement subies pendant plusieurs d & eacute;cennies dans un quartier marginalis & eacute;. Elle montre l'importance de la forme socio-technique des infrastructures, mais aussi de l'histoire des territoires d'implantation, pour atteindre des objectifs de justice sociale et de durabilit & eacute;. This article recounts the history of an urban biogas plant in Montr & eacute;al, from its controversial implementation between 1986 and 1996, to its first years of operation until the closure in 2009 of the Miron landfill to which it owes its existence. Its objective is both to contribute to an environmental history of Montr & eacute;al, and to question the potential and pitfalls of technical projects aimed at transforming a toxic legacy into an energy resource. The analysis of this case reveals the reproduction of environmental inequalities by "green" infrastructures, pointing to the failure of an attempt to compensate for the negative impacts disproportionately suffered for several decades by a marginalized neighborhood. It shows the importance of the socio-technical form of infrastructures, but also the crucial role played by the history of the areas in which they are implemented, in achieving objectives of social justice and sustainability.