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Germany to extend nuclear power plants, but opposition continues

The opposition Social Democrats said on Friday that they would appeal the decision at Germany’s highest court. They argue that the government’s reasoning that the upper house does not have to give its approval for the bill, is unlawful.

Germany passes law on extending the lifespans of nuclear power plants by Nicole Goebel Deutsche Welle | 26.11.2010 A bill that would see the lifespans of Germany’s 17 nuclear power plants extended by 12 years was approved by the upper house of parliament on Friday despite strong opposition.

Plans to extend the lifespan of Germany’s nuclear power stations took the last legislative hurdle when a bill was passed in Germany’s Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament on Friday, but opposition parties have vowed to appeal the decision.

Although surveys show that a majority of Germans are opposed to atomic power because of concerns over safety, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s center-right coalition government decided to extend the operating lives of the 17 German plants by an average of 12 years. The move overturns a law passed by a previous government of Social Democrats and Greens that would have seen the last plant shut down in 2022.

Germany has seen numerous anti-nuclear demonstrations in recent months, often supported by opposition politicians. Earlier this month, thousands protested against the latest transport of nuclear waste to a storage facility in the northern town of Gorleben.

Contentious bill

The opposition Social Democrats said on Friday that they would appeal the decision at Germany’s highest court. They argue that the government’s reasoning that the upper house does not have to give its approval for the bill, is unlawful.

The Bundesrat, in which Chancellor Merkel’s coalition does not have a majority, was thus forced to either approve the law or call in the mediators, a move which was rejected.

Opponents of nuclear power have also started a petition on the Internet called “Don’t do it Wulff,” in an attempt to get German President Christian Wulff to veto the bill. In the past 61 years, German presidents have only used their veto eight times.

Germany passes law on extending the lifespans of nuclear power plants | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 26.11.2010

November 26, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Germany, politics | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear spin, nuclear technology, reactors, uranium