nuclear-news

France in national denial- rejecting renewable energy, clinging to out-dated nuclear

The debate in the energy sector has intensified in recent years as
important deadlines have come and gone in terms of choices regarding
France’s climate and energy future. But this confrontation of proposals,
necessary and commendable, is struggling to find its place, as illustrated
by the failure of the debate organized by the National Commission for
Public Debate on the construction of the EPR2 reactors, which ended on
February 27.

It usually boils down to invective, at the expense of the
quality of the information brought to the attention of the greatest number.

This desperate state of affairs must change so as not to mislead us
collectively about the choices that determine the country’s energy future.
The debate on energy in France is skewed by the place of nuclear power
which, for a long time, relegated renewable energies to the bare minimum.

At a time when the question arises of renewing our electricity generation
system, it is appropriate to question the relevance of maintaining the same
technological choices as fifty years ago in an eminently different context.

But our country seems to be in a form of denial of the difficulties of the
nuclear sector and has been rehashing the same arguments against renewable
energies for twenty years: supposed overconsumption of materials, lack of
aesthetics, presumed destruction of biodiversity… and a allegedly
astronomical cost.

Le Monde 16th March 2023

https://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2023/03/16/notre-pays-semble-etre-dans-une-forme-de-deni-des-difficultes-de-la-filiere-nucleaire_6165759_3232.html

Jerome in Paris 18th March 2023

https://jeromeaparis.substack.com/p/tribune-in-le-monde

March 21, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | culture and arts, France