The bill aimed at accelerating the construction of new nuclear reactors, which arrives in the Senate from Tuesday, January 17, should have the support of elected representatives of republican and communists.
By Mariama Darame and Jérémie Lamothe
At each energy law, a different majority to build for the government. After the adoption at first reading in the National Assembly of its bill on the acceleration of renewable energies (ENR) thanks to the support of the socialists and centrist elected officials of freedoms, independent, overseas and territories, the executive This time intends to turn to the Republicans (LR) and the Communist Party (PCF) to support its text to revive the nuclear sector, whose examination begins in session in the Senate from Tuesday, January 17.
In parallel with the ENR text which aims to limit appeals and lift blockages to develop solar or wind energy projects, the government intends to do the same on nuclear by shortening administrative and environmental procedures to facilitate the Construction of new reactors.
The objective of this text is thus to “not put the administrative procedures on the path of a construction of the EPR (new generation reactors) by 2035-2037”, explained, Wednesday, January 11, the minister From the energy transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, in front of the senators.
cold sweats
In line with Emmanuel Macron’s statements announcing in February 2022 in Belfort his intention to launch six new EPRs and the launch of eight other sites, Agnès Pannier-Runacher said before the senators that “the first concrete flow” For new reactors must intervene “by the end of the five -year term, therefore 2027”.
In Parliament, if the vote on the ENR has given some cold sweats to the presidential coalition before uncertainty until the end of having sufficient majority, confidence is in order for the nuclear law bill , whose date of examination at the Assembly is not yet determined. “With LR and the PC, we have two parties which have extremely assertive positions and which de facto cannot oppose the text,” says the Renaissance deputy of Hauts-de-Seine Maud Bregeon.
As during the solemn vote at first reading of the text ENR – where the PS had voted for, the environmentalists had abstained, and LFI and the PCF opposed it -, the new Ecological and Social People’s Union (NUPES ) will once again display its disagreements on energy choices. Communists and certain socialists could support the provisions of this bill, when environmentalists and “rebellious”, who rely on the NUPS program – 100 % renewable energies and the exit of nuclear -, S ‘ will firmly oppose a “new detracting” of the town planning and environmental law.
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