France’s Nuclear Future in Play

Ecology minister’s sudden resignation puts spotlight on controversial power source.

France produces almost three-quarters of its electricity from nuclear power. That didn’t sit well with Ecology Minister Nicolas Hulot, who abruptly quit his post after he “failed to convince” the government in questioning the use of atomic energy. President Emmanuel Macron, aiming to boost renewables as he prepares an energy-policy road map for the next decade, has pledged to cut the share of nuclear in the country’s power output to 50 percent, though state-controlled Electricite de France SA has lobbied him to agree to new reactors as its fleet ages.

Source: Bloomberg