Left and Macronia oppose the enactment of the energy law; momentary reprieve for renewable energy sources
Taking a Swipe at the Solar and Wind Energy Sector, a Hot Mess in the French Parliament
Once again, the political class evades addressing pressing issues - in this case, the future of France's energy. The much-discussed Gremillet bill, focused on France's energy plans, was given a vote of approval on June 24th. This version of the bill came about after a fierce bout, with the peak being Jerome Nury (LR)'s amendment proposing a moratorium on the development of new electricity production installations using photovoltaic and wind energy, narrowly passing on essentially deserted benches.
For four long days, the renewable energy sector, NGOs, agricultural representatives, and elected officials voiced their disapproval of this provision. On the 24th, the left and the "government base" voted against, while LR abstained, and only the National Rally and its allies voted in favor unanimously. The outcome: the bill was rejected, with 142 votes in favor and 377 against, leaving it back at square one in the Senate, potentially devoid of all adopted amendments from last week at the Palais-Bourbon. For now, renewable energies escape the axe.
"Satirical Shenanigans"
Explanations of the vote made each side's stance clear. As the ratio of nuclear power in the energy mix invariably takes the spotlight in debates, it was the anti-renewable moratorium that proved to be the last straw. Julie Laernoes, an ecologist, colorfully summarized, "We've got to call a spade a spade: this Gremillet bill, already lopsided and calibrated for all-nuclear, has been turned into a climate-skeptic manifesto." She further argued against the moratorium, stating, "Halting renewables fuels fossil fuel revival, accelerates climate havoc, hikes utility bills, and directly threatens 80,000 jobs in France. This moratorium is madness."
Jean-Luc Fugit (EPR) expressed a similar sentiment, saying, "Our debates, contradictory amendments adopted, dogmatic logics, and political alliances have eroded this proposal's coherence." He continued, "The text that came out of our debates is filled with caricatures. [...] And we tumbled even further into absurdity with the moratorium on the development of wind and solar."
Insight: The rejected Gremillet bill contains a moratorium on new wind and solar projects, a move that risks fossil fuel dependency and jeopardizes 150,000 jobs tied to renewables [1][2]. Critics argue that the bill promotes the expansion of nuclear power with 14 new plants [1].
Insight: Minister Marc Ferracci has warned that the government will not delay publishing the decree of the PPE 3, the third multi-year energy plan, even before the end of parliamentary debates, which may result in the disappearance of the anti-REN moratorium [4].
The Revival of the Text goes back to 2021, when meetings with energy experts, professionals, and elected officials took place to lay the groundwork for the PPE 3. The PPE 3 aims to specify objectives for energy resource installations, consumption reduction, and the disappearance of fossil fuels by 2035 [3]. Despite a significant delay, a first draft of the text was submitted for consultation in the fall, and the revised version, full of contradictions and caricatures, was published in March [3].
Breakdown of the text leaves much room for improvement before it reaches its final form. If approved, the bill could significantly impact France's energy landscape, underlining the need for continued discussions and adjustments.
- The Gremillet bill, focused on France's energy plans, has been criticized for its potential to stall renewable energy projects, risking fossil fuel dependency and jeopardizing over 80,000 jobs in France.
- The bill, which initially aimed to phase out fossil fuels by 2035, now contains a moratorium on new wind and solar projects, a move that has been met with strong opposition from the renewable energy industry and related NGOs.
- After passing a vote of approval in the French Parliament, the bill was later rejected, with many arguing that it promotes the expansion of nuclear power and lacks coherence due to contradictory amendments and political alliances.
- Political debates surrounding energy policy and legislation continue, with the future of France's renewable energy sector and its role in the overall energy mix still unclear.
