Leading French energy federations have called upon the newly elected members of parliament to adopt the nation’s energy program, which is a year behind schedule.
They emphasize the need for stability to foster growth in the energy sector during this critical transition period.
Open Letter to Elected Officials
“Our energy system and industrial sectors are at a pivotal juncture. As elected representatives, you will have the responsibility during this new term to guide France towards an equitable and attractive energy transition,” declare Enerplan (solar), FEDENE (energy-environment services), France Renouvelables, France Gaz, the Renewable Energy Union, SFEN (nuclear energy), and the French Electricity Union (UFE) in an open letter.
Avoiding Disruptions and Ensuring Stability
“Stop-and-go policies are detrimental to our long-term industries,” they stress, highlighting the “key role” of Parliament “in providing industrial players with the stability they need to initiate investments that will ensure energy security, an accessible energy transition for all citizens, the competitiveness of our businesses, and job creation.”
Implementing the Multi-Year Energy Program
The sector is calling for the implementation of the multi-year energy program, which outlines the major objectives for each energy type by 2035, and the national low-carbon strategy, a national roadmap to combat climate change.
Previous Government’s Failure and Renewed Appeal
The outgoing government, lacking an absolute majority in the Assembly, had abandoned plans to make it a law, promising a decree that was never issued.
The energy federations are now urging the newly elected members of parliament to take up the previously established objectives, which were determined after extensive consultations in 2023.
Maintaining Competitiveness and Ensuring Supply Security
“We call for the publication of programmatic documents based on the consensus reached during the various consultations held over the past several months, allowing us to maintain the competitiveness of our energy mix, guarantee security of supply, decarbonize energy uses, and make this transformation a driver of the country’s reindustrialization.”
Additional Calls for Action
The multi-year strategy for financing the ecological transition, announced for 2025, must also be published, the signatories add. They also call for this transition to be carried out while safeguarding the purchasing power of French citizens.
Protecting Consumers and Supporting Communities
“We recommend decarbonizing energy uses to protect consumers from energy price volatility, strengthening aid programs for low-income households (energy vouchers, MaPrimeRénov’, support for clean mobility, etc.), and communities, and implementing measures to better share the value of the transition with the territories,” the letter specifies.