France Crushes Controversial Wind And Solar Ban Attempt, Saving Thousands Of Jobs

While far-right politicians attempted to bring France’s renewable energy sector to a screeching halt, their efforts were swiftly shot down by the French National Assembly. The controversial proposal would have placed a moratorium on wind and solar projects, threatening a staggering 80,000 jobs across the country’s renewable industry. Talk about a disaster narrowly avoided.

France’s renewable industry—and 80,000 jobs—just dodged a far-right bullet aimed at wind and solar development.

French lawmakers ultimately rejected the amendment introduced by right-wing and conservative MPs. The initial approval happened during a thinly attended parliamentary session—classic political maneuvering that almost worked. Almost. Government officials and left-wing MPs rallied against it when the full assembly convened.

The stakes couldn’t have been higher. Industry experts pointed to France’s painful 2010 precedent, when a moratorium on solar subsidies led to significant job losses in France’s photovoltaic sector, with industry groups estimating thousands of jobs affected. Minister Agnès Pannier-Runacher strongly criticized the proposed amendment, describing it as unreasonable and irresponsible. Utility companies weren’t mincing words either, warning of “dramatic” job losses if history repeated itself.

The moratorium threatened not only direct industry jobs but also those in the broader supply chain, including manufacturing, installation, and maintenance. Energy companies like Engie were staring down serious financial losses if new projects suddenly hit a brick wall. The final vote in parliament had the entire industry in a feverish state of anticipation.

The parliamentary decision preserved France’s trajectory toward its carbon neutrality goals and alignment with EU renewable energy targets. Industry leaders, who had been warning of sector “death,” could finally exhale.

Looking ahead, the rejection establishes a precedent for protecting renewable sector employment. France plans to increase renewable capacity alongside its nuclear expansion, creating thousands of additional green energy jobs in coming years. The message is clear: France’s renewable future—and its jobs—aren’t up for political games. Period.