On 16 May Jean-Marc Ayrault was appointed Prime Minister of France after the election of Francois Hollande as President. There was a little concern that in the current European debt crisis there might be some back-tracking on France’s commitment to renewable energies. However  Ayrault confirmed a few days ago that the new government will uphold the target of reducing the share of nuclear power from 75% to 50% of electricity production by 2025 and develop a “green economy”.

The French government confirmed that the share of nuclear energy in electricity production will be reduced from 75% today to 50% by 2025 and develop a “green economy”.

Ayrault also told the National Assembly, that his government will launch a “massive program of energy saving and an ambitious plan for renewable energy development”.

windfarm in the rural Pas de Calais district

He said further; “The gas and electricity, like water, are common property and can not be left to the law of the market, we will launch a gradual charging, with a double objective, social and ecological”.

He indicated that there would be two main roads to achieving this; boosting renewable energies and cutting demand for electricity.

Equally good news was that the new minister of environment, sustainable development and energy, Delphine Bath (picture below) announced in her first public statement that the development of renewable energy would be a “major focus” of government policy.

Delphine Batho

In the meantime, Batho said the promised national debate on energy,  scheduled originally for this month, will now start in September., while the government will present its law planning the journey of energy transition early next year.

Regarding wind power specifically,  trade body the Renewable Energy Syndicate (SER) says “a thorough consultation is already underway with the government and parliament to simplify administrative procedures.”

 

Ayrault’s confirmation follows the campaign promise of newly-elected French president Francois Hollande to reform wind farm planning law, to make decisions more quickly

In an article in the authoritative newspaper,Le Monde on 8 May, Hollande’s energy advisor Marie-Hélène Aubert said the new government would “re-establish a stable, visible and incentivising regulatory framework” for wind power before next summer.

The Prime Minister also said  that the “ecological and energy transition” that intends to apply will be about “creating new jobs”.

Ayrault also said that protecting the planet was vital and to contribute to this, the government intends to lay the foundations for a green economy  based on “technological innovation”, which he said will be one of the key elements of the country’s economic recovery.

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