Q ENERGY France has entered into a partnership agreement with the Association of Rural Mayors of France (Association des maires ruraux de France, AMRF) aimed at structuring stronger cooperation between energy industry players and rural local authorities. This commitment is based on a shared objective: supporting the expansion of low-carbon electricity production at the territorial level to meet the country’s growing energy needs.
The partnership seeks to address multiple simultaneous challenges: national reindustrialisation, electrification of end-uses, and land availability in low-density areas. Rural municipalities, which hold a significant share of France’s land and energy potential, are at the centre of this strategy. By bringing together rural elected officials and private operators, the initiative aims to improve coordination on the ground to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy projects.
A territorial approach to energy sovereignty
The agreement forms part of the Grand Atelier of Rural Mayors for Ecological Transition, a programme led by the AMRF to mobilise rural municipalities around energy issues. Q ENERGY France intends to contribute its industrial expertise to support local electrification projects, providing technical tools, feedback, and tested models of collaboration.
The partnership also includes the organisation of regular meetings with elected officials to anticipate local needs, facilitate dialogue on ongoing projects, and maximise the economic benefits of energy installations. Emphasis is placed on direct benefits for municipalities: local taxation, job creation, territorial development, and infrastructure modernisation.
Establishing permanent public-private dialogue
Both parties have expressed their intention to make rural territories a strategic driver in France’s energy transformation. The proximity of elected officials to citizens is viewed as a key factor in project acceptance and local integration. The proposed model is based on co-development and shared governance between public stakeholders and industrial actors.
Guillaume Guémard, Wind Director at Q ENERGY France, stated that “electrification of end-uses is at the heart of our energy sovereignty” and that “the trust-based relationship with rural elected officials” is essential for success. Fanny Lacroix, Vice-President of the AMRF, said that “rural territories are the first concerned by the ecological transition” and that they provide “proximity with citizens, which facilitates dialogue and cultural shifts.”
