London — France's new environment and energy minister Francois de Rugy Wednesday 

said the national energy roadmap for the coming decade would be presented by the end 

of October. 

In his first interview following his appointment Tuesday, the new minister told France Inter

he would "not deviate from the path of ecological transformation." "We will do what has 

never been done before," de Rugy said, referring to the multi-annual energy plans (PPE) 

but without providing details. 

"I will meet everyone and listen to the constraints of reality. But I will not deviate from the 

path of the ecological transformation," de Rugy said on his twitter account following the i

nterview. 

De Rugy was a member of the Green Party before joining President Emmanuel Macron's 

LREM party last year. He has been acting as speaker of the National Assembly. 

Questioned about incumbent power utility EDF's lobbying and influence on energy policy, 

the minister noted the utility was an 85% state-owned public enterprise with parliament 

responsible for policy. 

He referred to renewables expansion and especially offshore wind as a key challenge for 

EDF. 

De Rugy has been a lawmaker for the Nantes region on the French Atlantic coast since 20

07. The region has developed into a key hub for French offshore wind, with EDF's Saint-

Nazaire project expected to be France's first large offshore wind farm to enter operation by 

2021. 

France's wind energy lobby FEE Wednesday appealed to the minister to confirm state sup

port for offshore wind projects, described as the "Achilles' heel" of the country's renewable 

energy program. 

Pragmatist with green credentials According to state broadcaster France24, de Rugy is kno

wn as a pragmatist who backed Macron's decision last year to delay the planned reduction 

of nuclear in the French power mix. 

However before joining Macron's LREM, de Rugy campaigned for a full exit from nuclear by 

2040 and 100% renewables by 2050. 

Rugy is considered more of the career politician and a safe choice by Macron, according to a 

note by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada Wednesday. 

De Rugy replaces Nicolas Hulot, a former environmental activist and the most popular minist

er  in  the  Macron  administration,  who  abruptly  resigned last week in a live radio interview 

blaming lack of support from the government.