nuclear-news

Not certain that Germany’s nuclear plants will be extended

Merkel’s coalition, however, still needs to get parliamentary approval for the new agreement.

German leaders reach agreement on nuclear energy – BusinessWeek,  JUERGEN BAETZ, 5 Sept 10, German leaders reached an agreement to grant the country’s nuclear power plants an average of 12 extra years of production time and to levy new fees on the utility companies’, stripping them of billions of their expected additional profits, a government official said Sunday…….

The main opposition parties, the Social Democrats and the Greens, staunchly oppose the idea of keeping the plants longer online, citing the safety risk and the need to switch to renewable energies.

Opposition leader Sigmar Gabriel told public broadcaster ARD Sunday evening the agreement marked “a black day for Germany’s energy policy” as the coalition government caved in to the pressure of the utility companies.

The project was even controversial within Merkel’s government. Economy Minister Bruederle called for an extension of up to 20 years, but Environment Minister Roettgen was skeptical on longer production times.

Merkel’s coalition, however, still needs to get parliamentary approval for the new agreement.

The government says the measure only has to be approved by the lower house, where it holds a majority. The opposition maintains the upper house representing the federal states — where Merkel recently lost her majority — has to approve the measure as well. If no agreement is reached, leading opposition politicians have hinted they would bring the case to the country’s constitutional court…..

German leaders reach agreement on nuclear energy – BusinessWeek

September 6, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Germany, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, reactors