I have never understood any argument against nuclear power. Can the leftist scum here help me understand? Even France is investing in nuclear.
Emmanuel Macron
Photographer: Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency/Bloomberg
By
Ania Nussbaum
and Francois De Beaupuy
February 10, 2022, 9:40 AM CSTUpdated onFebruary 10, 2022, 11:29 AM CST
President Emmanuel Macron wants French utility company Electricite de France SA to build up to 14 new nuclear reactors, pledging tens of billions of state support over the next three decades to revamp the country’s struggling atomic industry.
“In the long run, nuclear power and renewables will provide cheaper energy, protected from the turbulences of markets,” Macron said Thursday in Belfort, eastern France, at a General Electric site that produces turbines for nuclear power stations and will be bought by EDF.
Macron said the government will push for massive growth in solar and offshore wind power alongside nuclear as the transition away from fossil fuels will boost the use of electric cars, heat pumps and other equipment and plants running on power. New capacity will be needed to secure supply as a number of EDF’s 56 reactors are already showing signs of aging, and will progressively be retired by the middle of the century.
Just two months before the presidential election, Macron is casting himself as the champion of a popular industry -- France prides itself on its comparatively low CO2 emissions per capita thanks to its reliance on nuclear power, which provides more than two-thirds of the country’s electricity output.
He’s also trying to boost his credentials as a defender of French industrial independence and shake off criticism that he let American rival GE grab key nuclear assets from France’s Alstom when he was economy minister.
While Macron hasn’t officially announced that he plans to seek a second term, he has effectively been on the campaign trail for months, promising subsidies to different sectors.
France should plan for the construction of six new large reactors -- with the first one coming online around 2035 -- and studies for another eight should also be launched. The new program could represent 25 gigawatts of capacity by 2050, Macron said. Tens of billions of euros of public financing will be committed to fund these projects, allowing to preserve the financial situation of EDF, he said.
The French government could invest in the new nuclear power stations alongside EDF, an aide of the French president told Bloomberg Thursday.
The new reactors are meant to help France reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and reducing reliance on oil and gas -- just as price hikes in fossil fuels are reminding Europeans of their dependence on foreign supplies for energy security.
France will work with the European Commission to introduce a new regulation for nuclear power to provide stable prices for French consumers and companies, Macron said, despite similar talks stalling last year.
Macron’s main opponents, who also back ambitious investments in nuclear power, have criticized him for being inconsistent. Early in his mandate, he vowed to reduce reliance on nuclear energy and to shut a dozen reactors by 2035. Two years ago, he forced EDF to close its two oldest reactors after four decades of operations.
Now, Macron is paving the way for EDF to start lengthy permitting proceedings for the construction of six reactors, which could cost about 50 billion euros ($57 billion), according to the utility. EDF will also get 500 million euros of financial support from the government to develop a small modular reactor prototype by 2030, Macron said.
“EDF is our common good, a sovereignty company,” Macron said in Belfort. “It will rely on the support of the state for this unprecedented project in 40 years in good financial and operational conditions.”
The last reactor put in service in France was in 2002. Development of new projects has been put on hold after years of technical issues at the Flamanville-3 reactor in Normandy, which is now expected to be commissioned next year. Its construction cost has ballooned to 12.7 billion euros.
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Macron Pledges New Nuclear Reactors - if He’s Re-Elected
- EDF to build up to 14 new large reactors from 2028: Macron
- French President announces tens of billions of new investments
Emmanuel Macron
Photographer: Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency/Bloomberg
By
Ania Nussbaum
and Francois De Beaupuy
February 10, 2022, 9:40 AM CSTUpdated onFebruary 10, 2022, 11:29 AM CST
President Emmanuel Macron wants French utility company Electricite de France SA to build up to 14 new nuclear reactors, pledging tens of billions of state support over the next three decades to revamp the country’s struggling atomic industry.
“In the long run, nuclear power and renewables will provide cheaper energy, protected from the turbulences of markets,” Macron said Thursday in Belfort, eastern France, at a General Electric site that produces turbines for nuclear power stations and will be bought by EDF.
Macron said the government will push for massive growth in solar and offshore wind power alongside nuclear as the transition away from fossil fuels will boost the use of electric cars, heat pumps and other equipment and plants running on power. New capacity will be needed to secure supply as a number of EDF’s 56 reactors are already showing signs of aging, and will progressively be retired by the middle of the century.
Just two months before the presidential election, Macron is casting himself as the champion of a popular industry -- France prides itself on its comparatively low CO2 emissions per capita thanks to its reliance on nuclear power, which provides more than two-thirds of the country’s electricity output.
He’s also trying to boost his credentials as a defender of French industrial independence and shake off criticism that he let American rival GE grab key nuclear assets from France’s Alstom when he was economy minister.
While Macron hasn’t officially announced that he plans to seek a second term, he has effectively been on the campaign trail for months, promising subsidies to different sectors.
Future Plan
France should plan for the construction of six new large reactors -- with the first one coming online around 2035 -- and studies for another eight should also be launched. The new program could represent 25 gigawatts of capacity by 2050, Macron said. Tens of billions of euros of public financing will be committed to fund these projects, allowing to preserve the financial situation of EDF, he said.
The French government could invest in the new nuclear power stations alongside EDF, an aide of the French president told Bloomberg Thursday.
The new reactors are meant to help France reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 and reducing reliance on oil and gas -- just as price hikes in fossil fuels are reminding Europeans of their dependence on foreign supplies for energy security.
France will work with the European Commission to introduce a new regulation for nuclear power to provide stable prices for French consumers and companies, Macron said, despite similar talks stalling last year.
Daunting Task
EDF should also prepare to prolong the lifetime of its reactors beyond 50 years, unless declared unsafe by the country’s nuclear safety authority, the French President said. The country, and debt-laden EDF, faces a daunting task of progressively replacing older reactors, most of which were commissioned in the 1980s and 1990s, the nuclear regulator said last month.Macron’s main opponents, who also back ambitious investments in nuclear power, have criticized him for being inconsistent. Early in his mandate, he vowed to reduce reliance on nuclear energy and to shut a dozen reactors by 2035. Two years ago, he forced EDF to close its two oldest reactors after four decades of operations.
Now, Macron is paving the way for EDF to start lengthy permitting proceedings for the construction of six reactors, which could cost about 50 billion euros ($57 billion), according to the utility. EDF will also get 500 million euros of financial support from the government to develop a small modular reactor prototype by 2030, Macron said.
“EDF is our common good, a sovereignty company,” Macron said in Belfort. “It will rely on the support of the state for this unprecedented project in 40 years in good financial and operational conditions.”
The last reactor put in service in France was in 2002. Development of new projects has been put on hold after years of technical issues at the Flamanville-3 reactor in Normandy, which is now expected to be commissioned next year. Its construction cost has ballooned to 12.7 billion euros.
