The environmental NGOs called this Thursday for a development of renewable energies that occurs “without ecological and democratic setbacks.” Therefore, they criticized the provisions of the bill that were supposed to help France catch up in this area.
The signatories, including France Nature Environnement (FNE) and the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), “are in favor of the development of renewable energies (EnR) but on the condition that it be carried out in compliance with public consultation procedures and environmental”. law, essential conditions for its long-term development, so as not to subject biodiversity to additional pressure”.
Adoption of the bill is expected in the fall.
The government wants to pass this bill in the fall to make up for France’s long lag in wind and solar power.
The text of 20 articles contains, in particular, transitory measures for 48 months to simplify the procedures (relief from the obligations of environmental evaluation or extension of the public vote by electronic means), the multiplication of possibilities for the installation of solar panels and the pooling of debates by coast for offshore wind energy.
CNTE reserves
This project, transmitted to the CNTE in mid-August, has aroused the concern of some environmental defenders, who fear both for biodiversity and for a regression of environmental law. The CNTE, whose opinion is advisory, met on Thursday morning. According to a draft opinion that was widely adopted (29 votes out of 34 expressed), it supported certain reservations expressed by NGOs.
The development of renewables must be done “with respect to the preservation of the environment, in particular the climate, biodiversity, water, the coast, the sea, the mountains, ecosystems, and the fight against the artificialization of soils” , according to the text. The opinion is particularly concerned about temporary emergency measures, which “however, may have effects in the medium and long term” and should be the subject of an “assessment”.
He still regrets the absence of “specific provisions” for several technologies, including biogas, and points to the problem of the “lack of resources allocated to state services” in the delay in the development of projects.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for Energy Transition, assured for her part that she wanted to “reconcile this massive development (of renewable energies) with the essential protection of biodiversity, with our food sovereignty and with the preservation of our living environments”.
“We will respond to requests for clarification and take into account the Council’s comments, which we largely share, in particular on biogas, staffing or even planning,” he said, in a statement sent to AFP via email. its services.
Source: BFM TV
