France has announced a $13.4 billion energy plan designed to reduce its dependence on atomic power from 75% to 50%. The nation plans on using home renovation and insulation as one avenue of saving energy - allowing home owners to deduct 30% of the cost of thermal insulation from their taxable income.
The government will incentivize the purchase of electric cars by offering to purchase old, diesel powered vehicles. France will also install 7 million electric vehicle charging stations, while owners of electric cars will get a 30% rebate on the cost of installing a charger at home.
"We have a nuclear fleet which was built in the 1960s, 70s, 80s. So we arrive at a time when these plants get close to 30 years of age," said President of the French Nuclear Safety Authority, Pierre-Franck Chevet.
"The ageing of these facilities is a new factor, even if a foreseeable one. Can we go over 40 years? We have no answer on that yet. We are expecting a full report from EDF which will bring us to take a decision in 2015."
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