Renewable Energies: Assembly Passes Acceleration Bill

The National Assembly gave the final green light to the Renewable Energy Acceleration Bill on Tuesday, January 31, before final passage in the Senate on February 7. MPs adopted the text by 217 votes to 169, with the support of the Socialists and the elected representatives of the Liberty, Independents, Overseas and Territories (LIOT) small group, as the first reading.

Environmentalists again refrained from criticizing the text “unambitious”. The Communists, Les Républicains (LR) and Rassemblement National (RN) voted against. This vote is a satisfaction for the government, which on the same day faced a new day of mobilization against the pension reform.

A bill dedicated to renewable energy led to a compromise between deputies and senators a week ago. He aims “Remove all roadblocks that delay the implementation of projects”Transitional Minister of Energy Agnes Panier-Runacher emphasized. “We are the only European country that did not achieve its goals” In wind and sun, he said.

Acceleration zone negotiations

The most heated negotiations between MPs and senators focused on the planning of acceleration zones, where priority should be given to the deployment of renewable energies, with the consent of municipalities, as well as possible exclusion zones. “Local elected representatives propose and have the final say on zoning”Minister Panier-Runacher emphasized. And exclusion zones would only be possible for areas that confirm acceleration zones, he recalled.

The leftists fear the return of the mayoral veto, which LR demanded throughout the territory. And non-governmental organizations and renewable energy sector players criticize A “Gas Factory”.

Another sensitive topic is the definition of agrovoltaism, which combines agriculture and energy production. The government ensures that the text regulates this practice to avoid abuse at the expense of food sovereignty.

During the debate, LR MPs, contrary to their fellow senators as well as elected RNs, objected to the bill, pointing out that “inconvenience” wind turbines.

This text is only the first part of a triptych about energy. In the spring, the executive branch intends to defend in the National Assembly a bill promoting the construction of new nuclear reactors, which passed the first reading in the Senate on January 24.

Then the parliament will, at best, decide this summer on France’s energy future, with a multi-year programming law that will determine the share of each energy (nuclear, renewable).