GREENPEACE FRANCE DEMANDS ACCESS TO GREEN ELECTRICITY
Application challenges nuclear power producer EdF

8 December 1999

PARIS – Greenpeace France today challenged the electricity supply monopoly of nuclear power producer Electricity de France (EDF) with an application to a German power cooperative to supply the French office with “green” electricity.

The German power cooperative, Greenpeace Energy eG, has sent a letter today to EDF requesting access to its electricity grid in order to supply the Greenpeace France office in Paris. Under the European energy law it is illegal for a company to enter foreign markets while their domestic market is closed to foreign competition.

"Greenpeace is demanding the right to clean electricity, even in France", says Helene Gassin, from Greenpeace France. "The government and EDF should take this chance to take into account public demand for the development of a sustainable energy market with more jobs, more environmental protection, no nuclear waste and no nuclear accidents.”

EDF, primarily a nuclear power producer, benefits from extensive subsidies to the nuclear industry from the French government. The company has moved aggressively into a number of national markets following the liberalisation of the European electricity market, buying utilities across Europe including the recent purchase of 25% of the fourth largest German utility EnBW. EdF sells nuclear power to Germany via EnBW.

“EDF is flooding the European market with subsidised nuclear power,” said Sven Teske of Greenpeace Germany. “This will kill off the fast-growing renewable energy industries like wind and solar and leave consumers without a clean energy alternative.”

"The process of electricity liberalisation in Europe threatens the future of renewable energy" said Raquet. “What is required is a renewable energy directive which sets up legally binding minimum targets for the EU and all its Member States. The directive must also provide safeguards against existing market distortions such as the subsidised nuclear power which EDF is currently selling into the European market.”

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
- HELEN GASSIN (GREENPEACE FRANCE) AND MICHEL RAQUET (THE GREENPEACE EUROPEAN UNIT) +33-1-53438585,
- SVEN TESKE GREENPEACE GERMANY (mobile) +49-172 4040754

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