The presence of EDF’s hydroelectric activities boosts the local economy:

• In Corsica, 30% of the work to build the Rizzanese dam was carried out by local contractors
• In the Savoie department, modernisation of the Tignes-Malgovert facility represents an €80 million investment and provides work for a large number of SMEs
• In the Isère department, 25% of the civil engineering work at Romanche-Gavet was awarded to local contractors

In addition to its positive impact on industrial activity, EDF contributes to the sustainable development of valleys. A dialogue has been ongoing for many years with district authorities, non-profit organisations, the tourist industry, and so on about ways to manage the multiple uses of water. These consultations take a variety of forms – public meetings, workshops, information centres, websites – and the results are often outstanding.

In Sarrans, for example, the emptying of the reservoir led to an upsurge in local tourism. As 300 million cubic metres of water were released from the impoundment between May and September 2014, two working groups developed a programme of events. They included exhibitions, hot-air balloon trips to overfly the dam, visits to the Montézic underground power plant, botanical hikes, canoe trips and walking tours. Overall, 180 events were on offer for locals and tourists.

Another example is the Drac River, where the “Drac Amont Énergie” (Drac upstream energy) programme became a strong driver of development in the valley. It resulted in the Sautet and Monteynard reservoirs being developed and created industrial tourism.
The “One River, One Territory” programme
 
In 2012 EDF launched its “One River, One Territory” programme, in which agencies were set up to drive local development. They were endowed with funding and tasked with supporting local businesses. The focus is on innovative projects in three areas: water, energy and the environment.