The French wind power industry has criticised presidential candidate Marine Le Pen’s plans to dismantle existing wind farms and scrap government support for wind and solar projects.
If elected, far-right candidate Le Pen plans to impose a ban on wind and solar projects, gradually dismantle wind farms and suspend subsidies for these technologies.
However, if successful in the upcoming second round of the country’s presidential election, she plans to push the development of hydro power and geothermal energy as well as nuclear power and hydrogen.
Le Pen explained that she aims to reduce the price of electricity for households and industry.
However, French wind energy association FEE described Le Pen’s plan as “climate sceptic”, with a spokesman telling “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç that it would cost about €2.9 billion to dismantle the country’s existing wind farms, and questioning how France would replace wind power’s contribution to the country’s energy mix.
President Emmanuel Macron also criticised Le Pens plans, describing her wind turbine dismantling policy as an “aberration” that would mean "spending hundreds of millions of euros”, according to news wire Reuters.
Meanwhile, Macron wants France to have 40GW of offshore wind capacity by 2050 and to double France's existing onshore wind fleet by the same date.
FEE believes these targets should be brought forward to 2030 to help achieve energy security and independence and reduce emissions.
France is due to vote for Macron or Le Pen in a presidential election run-off this weekend (24 April).
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