Which future for nuclear territories in France?

Whereas the Fessenheim nuclear plant is about to be shut down, this article discusses the consequences and perspectives of such a shutting down process which puts the identity and social transformation of associated territories into question again. It recalls that the construction of these nuclear plants in rural environments modified the sociology of these territories, and that the presence of a nuclear plant was often related to the territory identity. Besides, the presence of these plants came with a huge financial contribution for the territory development: infrastructures, public constructions and facilities, tax incomes which have been used for high quality equipment of the territories. The question is then the future of territories with a loss of jobs which can be compared with what happened with the end of the steel industry