France Says Cutting Nuclear Reliance Could Take Extra 10 Years

摘要

France may delay its goal of reducing nuclear power to half of electricity output by five to 10 years because it needs more time to develop renewable energy, Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot said. The new deadline would be "2035 at the latest," Hulot said Nov. 8 on RMC radio, a day after calling the 2025 target set by the previous administration "unrealistic" because it would force France to boost carbon emissions. The government needs to convince households to accept more wind farms, he said. Hulot said state-controlled Electricite de France SA may need to close 17 to 25 atomic reactors to achieve the 50 percent target for nuclear power. He pledged to come up with a definitive number of plant closures within a year.