The French National Assembly recently rejected a closely watched motion that was meant to assess the feasibility of "Bit mining" as a way to absorb domestic electricity surplus. Although the conclusion was temporarily suspended due to procedural issues, the event still illustrates French politicians' cautious attitude towards high-energy-consuming crypto industries.
Mining Proposal Details
The motion's core was to investigate whether Bit mining could serve as a "flexible electricity consumer", quickly starting up during low electricity demand periods to consume nuclear power plant's excess capacity.
The bill's advocates emphasized that approximately 70% of France's electricity comes from nuclear power, occasionally with overproduction. By using mining to instantly adjust load, it could help stabilize the power grid and enhance energy sovereignty. Supporters on CoinCentral noted that Bit mining has a "quick switch speed" and can increase or decrease operations based on actual grid conditions. Additionally, establishing a mining industry might bring local employment and promote AI advantages.
Procedural Rejection
The French Parliament ultimately suspended the discussion on procedural grounds. According to Bitcoin.com's report, it was widely interpreted as "small in form, but with significant resistance". Analysts pointed out that French society's concerns about mining's high energy consumption and carbon emissions have not dissipated. Environmental groups often view mining as an "environmental disaster" with high electricity consumption, and these negative perceptions make any proposal to incorporate mining into national energy policy face a high political threshold.
This reveals the dilemma in France's energy policy: on one hand, there is indeed a need for flexible electricity use during nuclear power surplus periods; on the other hand, legalizing high-energy-consuming industries might conflict with carbon reduction goals of many European countries. Although this vote did not touch on practical aspects, it has initiated public discussion about how to balance energy efficiency with environmental and regulatory considerations.
In the short term, similar mining proposals in Europe are unlikely to gain legislative support. However, with the increasing proportion of renewable energy, continuous nuclear power generation, and expanding gaps between peak and off-peak electricity usage, how to properly utilize excess electricity, potentially targeting Bit mining and AI computing centers, will become a policy focus.
