I had been a convert to nuclear energy recently, but after Japan it looks like even the most pro-nuclear counties are having rolling back their nuclear energy plans. Maybe the environmentalists are right on this one:
Germany decides to shut down all nuclear power plants by 2022 in the wake of Fukushima
BERLIN (AP) — Germany's coalition government agreed early Monday to shut down all the country's nuclear power plants by 2022, the environment minister said, making it the first major industrialized nation in the last quarter century to announce plans to go nuclear-free.
The country's seven oldest reactors already taken off the grid pending safety inspections following the catastrophe at Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant in March will remain offline permanently, Norbert Roettgen added. The country has 17 reactors total.
Roettgen praised the coalition agreement after negotiations through the night between the governing parties.
"This is coherent. It is clear," he told reporters in Berlin. "That's why it is a good result."
Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed through measures in 2010 to extend the lifespan of the country's 17 reactors, with the last one scheduled to go offline in 2036, but she reversed her policy in the wake of the Japanese disaster.
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3 comments:
It's such a scary thing that happened to Japan. But I think it would be much easier to contain the damage of a nuclear accident in a place like Germany much easier than Japan.
But I'm still in favor of safety when it comes to nuclear anything.
They might want to figure out how they are going to generate enough power before shutting them all down. I read an article today (from HuffPo) very similar. Before they shutdown the 7 older reactors (in March), Germany was an energy exporter; since the shutdown of the 7, they have to import electricity. They say Hydro, solar, and Wind energy. Give me a break. Germany doesn't have the free range needed for solar or wind, and you can only dam up the Reine and Danube so many times before you cause environmental issues.
I think the "next generation" of nuclear plants would be much safer!
Most of the nuclear plants online have been in operation for several years!
I believe Wolf Creek only had a initial "life span" based on 25 years!(The amount of space to store spent fuel rods. Then incapsulate them in the closed facility. They must have built additional storage cause its still running.)
I doubt with the accidents at Chernobyl and now Japan. We will see any new plants being built in the near future.
But both of those incidents were from plants with inferior design and safety features!
I'll bet they don't stop building nuclear subs or carriers in the military!
Btw: The Government is so good at kicking the can down the road. They never have decided on what to do with the spent fuel rods or on a National Dump Site!
Those next generations are really gonna have alot to deal with and blame on those who are living TODAY!
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