The Assembly facilitates the energy renovation work of communities and the State

Carried by the Renaissance group, the text must now be examined on February 16 by the Senate. The Minister of Ecological Transition Christophe Béchu supported it, in the name of "exemplary" in order to "accelerate" in the fight against global warming.

It is a question of allowing "to invest now and to smooth over time the cost of the investment", explained the rapporteur Thomas Cazenave, who is also president of the delegation to the territorial communities of the Assembly.

It will thus be permitted, on an experimental basis for five years, to derogate from certain provisions of the public procurement code for the renovation of buildings: a third party, public or private, may carry out the investment, then the State or the community will reimburse the advance and interest, from the date of delivery of the work, which is currently not possible.

This debt will not be "hidden" but "clearly recorded in the accounts", according to Mr. Cazenave. It will be "useful and profitable", because its reimbursement can be "partially financed by the energy savings made by the work", assured the elected representative of Gironde, boasting "expected flexibility" on the ground.

Public buildings of the State and local authorities represent 380 million m2, or 37% of the national tertiary park. They are responsible for 76% of the energy consumption of municipalities, in particular in school buildings.

LFI deputy Jean-François Coulomme underlined the “serious risk of over-indebtedness of our communities”, and evoked the “corrupt practices” likely to be favored by the use of private financing.

On behalf of the MoDem group, Mathilde Desjonquères asked not to "let our guard down", recalling the toxic loans that nearly ruined many communities and weighed down the state after the 2008 financial crisis.

Two elected RN abstained during the vote on the text, the rest of the far-right group voting for, despite "imperfections".

"We absolutely do not play sorcerer's apprentices," said Mr. Béchu. It will be "local elected officials to decide" on private or public funding, for example via the Bank of Territories, underlined the rapporteur.