Instead of launching a second EPR nuclear reactor

Is the economic stimulus package announced by the Government compatible with environmental momentum In fact, it must be scratching to find in the 1,000 projects piloted by the new Minister of the stimulus, Patrick Devedjian, major efforts for a "green revolution". Launched by the Government on February 2, the recovery plan of EUR 26 billion, including 10 billion for the financing of infrastructure, was did not a Multicriteria screen, where the dominant environmental have award winning. He first meets a concern of emergency: quickly give work and therefore unlock soon all development projects waiting for years in cartons, notably in terms of State-region plan contracts.

"This plan has been built empirically based on the best projects out of Earth in 2009 and 2010, and taking into account the capacity of the forces of production to carry them out", it says the Government. At least does it not contain opposition radical with the conclusions of the Grenelle of the environment projects. Or new highway or airport, an increase in sum reasonable amounts allocated to the road ( 400 million euros), most of the efforts is River and rail, with the launch of the canal Seine Nord, the agreement signed with RFF to accelerate the rehabilitation of the rail network and the study of four new TGV lines.

Six major projects

Pencil in hand, on approach of the 3 billion euros in green investments in the stimulus package. Broad cash: i.e. summing the meagre investment of the State to those of public enterprises (SNCF, RATP, EDF). Reduced to posted $ 26 billion, the conclusion is quickly drawn: once more, the Government forgot ecological mutation! "False." Should report these 3 billion to 15 billion investment, by deducting the 11 billion of aid to firms for VAT and research. "Then it is the ratio of green investment of 20 by sir Nicholas Stern", calls on the Government. "In addition, this plan complements the Grenelle of the environment, which is a green recovery plan before the time".

Indeed, respect the objectives of the programme of the Grenelle Act sensu stricto environment seek spending 400 billion euros by 2020, which would be partially reimbursed by the energy savings identified. A calculation of long term. But, now, measures "Grenelle" are the basement of a restart of certain activities, as noted by the Minister of ecology, Jean-Louis Borloo, before the senators, who have adopted almost unanimously on February 10 the Bill. These measures revolve around six major projects: the construction heat to reduce consumption of heritage built French, transport to switch to alternative modes to road and the air, and energy to increase the share of renewables to 23 of our energy consumption in 2020. Then comes the part of biodiversity, which includes work to preserve its essential component, namely water, then the health with its cortege of measures to fight against non-point pollution: particles, noise, ozone... and finally the reform of governance to compel the State to pass all his actions to the sieve of ecological query.

Wind and solar power trolling

Fortunately, Jean-Louis Borloo did not wait the vote of parliamentarians to advance. Because the inscription on the agenda of the assemblies of Grenelle II Bill, highlighting the goals set by the programme Act, music appears to be compromised before the summer. In the meantime, the Minister has launched concrete program for thermal rehabilitation of buildings, or the component the most ambitious and most innovative of the round table. The Government has thus identify a package of appropriations of EUR 1.2 billion to 1.9 of rate of interest on fifteen years to push the social Union for habitat to quickly renovate 100,000 social housing. By April, it prepares to campaign to publicize the terms of the "eco-loan at zero rate. Cannot be combined with other support devices, including the tax credit, this eco-loan will fund up to 30.000 euros of work by owner, repayable in ten years at zero rate. The loan, aimed at the owners, occupants, or donors, will fund insulation work, replacement of Windows and doors, the installation of efficient boilers or solar water heaters, in short any equipment likely to significantly reduce energy consumption. In a context where the French who hold savings know more where placed, this supplementary funding opportunity may decide to invest in their heritage. At least abolished in large part financial barriers to the renovation of its property. The artisans of building expectations are high: according to them, maintenance of the housing sector would double its sales in four years and create 120,000 jobs.

Among other sites of the Grenelle, transport, often decried by the gap between objectives and means, regained credibility, with the additional funding provided by the recovery plan. On the other hand, proponents of renewable energy remain on their hunger: development of wind power and solar power is supported by the setting of a tariff to purchase high "green" electricity and long term, but many would have liked it go even further and faster. Instead of launching a second EPR nuclear reactor. "A PRT of the minimum price of EUR 4 billion creates 1,000 jobs for five years, when measures of saving energy in the building to create ten times more," said Benjamin top of the Global Chance association.