France is on the verge of adopting a shady deal with the sun, requiring that large parking lots use their space to generate electricity with solar panels that will double as sunshade for parked cars.
The Renewable Energies Bill passed the Senate on Friday, and goes back to the National Assembly, which passed an earlier version, for final review. The bill would apply to all parking lots with more than 80 spaces.
Parking lots with 80 to 400 spaces would have five years to put up the ‘photovoltaic shades,’ while those with 400 or more would have to complete the work in three years. Some French parking lots, including truck lots along the Autoroutes, and parking lots of large hypermarkets already have panels.
