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While the economic and political climate seems to be favourable for setting up geothermal projects in Alsace, a controversy breaks out in 2014. The consequences are important: out of the six projects envisaged, only two will lead to drilling work. How has deep geothermal energy been transformed from an iconic technology into a public problem for which the Prefecture and the Strasbourg Eurométropole must provide solutions? This article looks back at the different moments in this controversy with a focus on the different arenas of debate (within politics, associations, media and legal public enquiries). In particular, we follow the trajectory of two groups of arguments: those concerning the environmental impacts of the projects, on the one hand, and those criticising the lack of involvement of the Strasbourg Eurométropole in the management of the projects, on the other hand. Finally, we examine the mechanisms of appropriation and transformation of the arguments of local residents that led to the new governance of projects, set up in 2016/2017.