Photo by Martin Burns
The German government has seen sense and decided to close all of its nuclear power plants in a phased programme ending in 2022.
Don't let anyone tell you that demonstrations never solve anything. The population of Germany saw what happened at Fukushima, decided they didn't want anything to do with nuclear, and demonstrated until the Federal government caved and made their announcement yesterday.
The subsidies which once went into the nuclear industry can now go into proper renewables, which Germany is now hoping will take up the slack. It should also be a boost to the North Sea Supergrid and for Scotland's exports of wind energy.
A lot of people are tempted by the argument that nuclear power is a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels, that there's nothing inherently wrong with it. If you want to know why that argument is false, then can I suggest you read the Green European Foundation's booklet Myths of Nuclear Power - How the Energy Lobby is pulling the wool over our eyes.
2 comments:
Germany is a world-leader in the use of solar power - but it won't replace all their nuclear power, or anywhere close. This seems like a political move as usual, rather than a considered energy policy.
Safe, clean alternative energy is the future. Fukishima and Chernobyl have poisoned the air, land, water and food in the surrounding areas. It is time to phase out nuclear energy and ramp up wind, solar wave energy and geothermal.
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