Assembly completes review of Renewable Energy Acceleration Bill

After broad support from the Senate at first reading, the government avoided pitfalls at the Palais Bourbon on this text which aims to make up for France's clear delay in terms of wind power and photovoltaics, and which echoes the crisis energy.

The executive believes it can obtain a favorable vote from the Assembly on Tuesday, January 10, thanks to the PS and the independent group Liot, while the position of environmentalists and LFI remains more uncertain.

Some macronists fear, however, that this solemn ballot will be parasitized by the presentation on the same day of the government's pension reform.

"Everyone will make allowances, we must distinguish the subjects", puts the entourage of the Minister of Energy Transition Agnès Pannier-Runacher into perspective. "At the beginning, everyone saw this losing text. It obtained almost unanimity in the Senate and is in the process of being adopted in the Assembly", it is underlined.

"It twists the brain"

For the first time in the five-year term, the Macronists, deprived of an absolute majority, have resolutely turned to the left of the hemicycle, while they looked so far on the side of the right.

Because the presidential camp quickly mourned support from LR deputies, on a harder line than their colleagues in the Senate.

The LR and RN deputies scrapped for two weeks against the "nuisance" of wind turbines, an "intermittent" energy.

Wind turbines, "it destroys our landscapes", it "twists the eyes and the brain", ended up letting go of Pierre Meurin (RN).

Among the main debates: the sensitive subject of the approval of mayors to install wind turbines and solar panels. In line with a compromise found in the Senate, the Assembly validated a planning mechanism to define "acceleration" areas for the deployment of renewable energies, subject to the approval of the mayors.

The measure has tensed the left, which fears the return of the "veto of the mayors" demanded by the LR deputies for the whole of the territory.

“There are several safeguards. No one will be able to block the system and we give a very clear timetable for the mapping of the zones” in less than a year, assures the entourage of Agnès Pannier-Runacher.

Another moment of tension, the reinstatement of a key article aimed at reducing litigation against certain renewable energy projects, by recognizing an "imperative reason of major public interest (RIIPM)".

In committee, the opposition had deleted the article seeing in this limitation of appeals a threat to biodiversity.

Hesitancy

He was reinstated in session in confusion. The left seemed willing to negotiate a compromise, but MPs were taken aback by a Renaissance amendment crushing all others.

"We have the impression of having been taken for fools", had denounced Maxime Laisney (LFI).

There was "a lot of confusion" but "we continue to discuss" with a view to the next joint committee of deputies and senators, assures a macronist executive.

Hitch for the government: the Assembly removed an article which allowed a simple online consultation for certain photovoltaic projects, rather than a “public inquiry”. But the measure could return to the parliamentary shuttle.

In harmony Thursday, after the rallying of the minister, the deputies removed the principle of discounts on the invoices in favor of the residents of the installations. It was a "blocking point" for the Socialists, who preferred that renewable producers contribute to a territorial fund that can help low-income households - this will be the case.

On the environmental side, the main criticism concerns the artificialization of the soil. "We are for renewable energies but (...) we must go to all the spaces that are already built, everywhere in shopping centers, public establishments, residential", underlines the leader of the green deputies Cyrielle Chatelain.

Before the debates, the ecologists hesitated between "abstain" and vote for.

The government hopes that the concessions granted - extension of the obligation to install solar panels on car parks, establishment of an observatory and a mediator for renewable energies... - will tip the scales.