Nuclear, renewable energy: The government is strengthening its pawns in parliament on energy policy

The cross-party agreement on renewable energies, the adoption of the nuclear text by a large majority in the Senate… In a few hours, the government managed to overcome a number of obstacles on Tuesday, January 24, regarding two energy-related bills in the parliament. problem.

If the Senate’s first reading of the nuclear restart text was in doubt – 239 votes in favor, 16 against and 78 abstentions – the equation for the executive appeared less clear from the point of view of the Joint Commission Committee (CMP). Dedicated to the Renewable Energy Acceleration Bill.

Finally, at 21:40 in the evening, white smoke came out of this body, which behind closed doors brings together seven deputies and seven senators and where the right has a narrow majority. The five-hour talks will allow the presidential coalition to achieve its goals: to find a compromise with the elected Republicans (LR) and the centrists who dominate the Senate, while retaining the support of the Socialists and centrists in the Palace-Bourbon. The group “Freedoms, Independents, Abroad and Territories”, which supported the bill on January 10.

At the end of this agreement was found the CMP – without the deputy of Orne Jérôme Nouris (LR), who abstained, and without his colleagues (National Rally, Gard) Pierre Meurin and the “rebel” Maxime Leysnay (Sene-et-Marne), who voted against – The two chambers must now adopt this final version of the bill in a solemn vote on January 31.

“This is the result of months of dialogue to fight climate change, build our energy independence and protect the purchasing power of the French.”, welcomed, on Tuesday, the Transitional Minister of Energy, Agnès Pannier-Runacher. A few hours earlier, the latter also welcomed the passage of his nuclear bill in the Senate, seeing it as “A new step to materialize the relaunch of an ambitious and sustainable nuclear policy”.

“Turning mayors into actors in the energy transition”

Although the two texts have received quite different political support, their objectives are essentially the same: to simplify certain administrative procedures, notably by reducing the means of appeal, to develop nuclear and renewable projects so that France can move away from fossil fuels. in 2050.

The pressure is all the greater for the executive as it was once again jailed on Tuesday for failing to meet its commitments on renewable energy. According to the Observ’ER barometer, France will not meet its renewable electricity generation target by the end of 2023 if it stays at its current rate – or 20 gigawatts against the expected 24.1 gigawatts.