Editing Aude (section)

===Industry and energy===
Industrial activity is strong in the upper valley of the Aude. It has been especially prominent around [[Limoux]] since the late nineteenth century; and the [[Lafarge (company)|Lafarge]] brick plant there is still booming.

Since the 1970s, however, the Aude has seen a rapid decline in its traditional industries such as shoe and hat making. More recent activity is mostly centred around [[Narbonne]], particularly [[dock (maritime)|dock]] facilities and [[petroleum|oil]] depots in [[Port-la-Nouvelle]].

From 1889, the high valley of Aude became increasingly important in generating [[hydroelectric]] power. Aude was the first department in France to transmit such power, from its plants at [[Alet-les-Bains]] and [[Quillan]]. Joachim Estrade established the first electricity company in France, the Southern Power Transmission Company (SMTF), in 1901. Its plant at [[Axat]]-Saint-Georges supplied the cities of Carcassonne and Narbonne at 20 [[kilovolts]].

Today Aude is the leading department in France for the number of wind turbines installed. There are 113 in operation. They produce some 91 [[megawatts]], which is the domestic electricity consumption of about 100,000 people.<ref>Source dated 7 March 2006: [http://www.aude.pref.gouv.fr/actualite/eolien/ppe.asp Préfecture of Aude] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822205825/http://www.aude.pref.gouv.fr/actualite/eolien/ppe.asp |date=22 August 2009 }} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> With the proliferation of these machines, the prefecture is seeking to establish with stakeholders a charter of good conduct for wind turbines.