Transcripción del resumen del autor. France is far ahead of the curve in terms of weaning itself off fossil fuels and sports the closest thing to energy independence of any country in Europe. Ever since 1974, when the government decided to rapidly expand the country's nuclear power capacity, France has not felt the intense stress of energy insecurity nor has it been particularly impacted by the rising and falling prices of oil. However, with the vulnerabilities of nuclear power being cruelly exposed by Japan's recent earthquake and tsunami, the potential downside of France's policy is all too clear, writes Pacifica Goddard.

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