Emmanuel Macron’s resigned choice for wind turbines

Calm weather, clear sky. This Thursday, May 2, 2019, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron observe the French countryside at a height of just over 1,000 feet. The Super-Puma, the presidential helicopter, is en route to Amboise, where the couple are expected to commemorate the 500e anniversary of the death of Leonardo da Vinci. We fly over the plains of Beauce, we approach the Loire Valley… When, suddenly, the eye of the presidential couple collides with a wind farm. “It’s true that it’s ugly”, let go of the president.

At his side, Stéphane Bern is jubilant. The television host appointed to head the mission to safeguard endangered heritage is aware that, like him, Mr. and Mr.me Macron have little taste for the aesthetics of these metal blades prized by environmentalists. It is even said that, during official trips, the road is studied to prevent the President of the Republic from crossing these 2.0 windmills. But, that day, no escape. “I did it on purpose so that he could see”, assures Stéphane Bern, to whom Mr. Macron would then have said: “You’re right, there are too many. “

Anguish of voters

Two years later, the wind turbines are still there. More than ever. Here they are even presented, alongside nuclear power, as key elements of the energy transition making it possible to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 in the report of the manager of the Electricity Transmission Network (RTE) unveiled on Monday, October 25. They are also part of the investments for the future supposed to build the France of 2030 that the Head of State designed on October 12. “We will have an investment objective of more than 500 million euros in disruptive technologies, in renewable energies, in particular wind turbines, on land, at sea and photovoltaics”, detailed Emmanuel Macron. “It’s always this ‘at the same time'”, annoys Stéphane Bern.

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The “Mr. Heritage” of the Elysée Palace, very upset against wind turbines while claiming to be “100% green”, nevertheless hoped to end up winning his case. In mid-January 2020, during a round table devoted to ecology in Pau, the Head of State had recognized it. “Let’s be clear: the capacity to massively develop onshore wind power is reduced. (…) The wind energy consensus is weakening significantly in our country ”, he explained. And to add: “We cannot impose wind power from above. “ On July 27, Emmanuel Macron dealt another blow to the industry. During a trip to Polynesia, he recommended adapting, or even giving up, wind farms “Where they distort, disfigure the landscape, because sometimes it happens”.

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