Germany edition

Greenpeace activists protest nuclear energy at a plant in June. Photo: DPA

Röttgen says Germany can't halt nuclear exit

Published: 25 Nov 09 08:03 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/politics/20091125-23495.html

Retreat from nuclear energy can no longer be halted, Germany’s new Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen told daily Bild on Wednesday.

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“One can use atomic energy in the long run only when the majority of the people accept it,” he said. “This hasn’t been the case for years and in my estimation it’s not going to change.”

The statement from Röttgen, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats, would appear to draw a line under the new centre-right government’s decision to abandon a total phaseout of nuclear power by 2020. Merkel has said that the life of some reactors should be extended to use nuclear energy as a "transition energy" until renewables like solar and wind can produce more power.

But Röttgen, a confidant of the chancellor, was unwilling to consider a permanent revival for atomic energy.

As for whether extending the use of nuclear reactors would make energy more affordable for consumers, the environment minister said that such a promise would be “dishonest.”

“If we extend the terms, then it would be to invest the extra money in renewable energy sources,” he told Bild.

Nuclear energy is deeply unpopular in Germany and activists often stage protests at the Gorleben atomic waste depot in the state of Lower Saxony. The government has approved plans to get rid of its reactors by 2020, but high energy costs and greenhouse gas concerns have Merkel’s coalition government second-guessing the plans.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

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Your comments about this article:

08:55 November 25, 2009 by pepsionice

It's a shocker for the liberal left. Their entire argument about carbon being a major issue....brings the pro-nuke folks back to the front of the agenda. I don't see how anyone can avoid building more nuclear powerplants now.

Report abuse »

09:29 November 25, 2009 by Portnoy

+ 1 for the new environment minister. Just think if just a portion of all the money put into mining uranium, subsidizing the plants and subsidizing the storage of nuclear waste was put into alternative energy. We'd be much further along than we are.

Did you know that new wind turbines are twice as efficient as the previous generation? It's that kind of technological advancement that we're years behind on because of the ruse of nuclear power.

Report abuse »

13:37 November 25, 2009 by badthoughs

Did you know that nuclear, in is original push (80s), sucessfully displaced coal power? Right now, not a single coal fired station has been shut down during the "renewable" push, despite being largely subsidized.

Report abuse »

15:23 November 25, 2009 by Portnoy

Hey bad logic, did you know that 14% of Germany's energy comes from renewable resources? Guess not otherwise you wouldn't make spread such blatant and irrelevant untruths.

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16:14 November 25, 2009 by Civical

I am astonished that Germany is being led by the nose down this futile path by the Greens. If you want to remain a leading industrial country and meet the EU objectives on carbon emissions and climate change you will need reliable, affordable electricity. As a country renowned for its science and engineering prowess I would have thought that enough people will have worked out that you will not be able to achieve that at all with subsidised renewables. The only other technology known to work without producing Co2 is Nuclear power. Check out the Eurostat figures for Co2 per capita since 1990, Germany is not doing too well despite the investment in wind and solar, France and Sweden much better with Nuclear and Hydro and France has the cheapest electricity.

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16:40 November 25, 2009 by Portnoy

You mean, SUBSIDIZED nuclear power. I'd rather have the subsidies elsewhere, thanks.

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17:11 November 25, 2009 by Civical

Portnoy, there is no Z in subsidise. I mean you will find that wind and solar power receive a considerable subsidy via the unit electricty cost and feed in tariff which is reflected in your electricity bill. It seems that is the price you are willing to pay for irrational fear of the N word.

Report abuse »

17:50 November 25, 2009 by Portnoy

You like being wrong, eh?

165 billion euros in subsidies since 1950 for nuclear power in Germany

http://www.greenpeace.de/fileadmin/gpd/user_upload/themen/atomkraft/Studie_Subventionen_Atomenergie.pdf

This from Oxford English:

subsidize

(also subsidise)

• verb 1 support (an organization or activity) financially. 2 pay part of the cost of producing (something) to reduce its price.

— DERIVATIVES subsidization noun.

Report abuse »

20:52 November 25, 2009 by Civical

If your still there Portnoy, I hate getting into these online matches but, I was just chiding your U.S. English spelling. You need to research some independent and unbiased sources for your information, not taking Greenpeace propaganda verbatim. The 1950's really?

Report abuse »

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