• 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.

“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)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

#1
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 »
#2
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 »
#3
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 »
#4
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.
Report abuse »
#5
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.
Report abuse »
#6
16:40 November 25, 2009 by Portnoy
You mean, SUBSIDIZED nuclear power. I'd rather have the subsidies elsewhere, thanks.
Report abuse »
#7
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 »
#8
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 »
#9
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 »
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Photo: DPA, The icy

Arctic cold wreaks quirky havoc across Germany

The bitter cold is wreaking havoc across Germany in unexpected ways, with the subzero temps freezing an ice cream factory, forcing gravediggers to use jackhammers and driving penguins indoors. But Hamburg is having a party. READ »

Photo: DPA

Merkel helps boost conservatives' popularity

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives are flying high in a new opinion poll showing them garnering their best result since her beleaguered coalition took power in 2009. Germans are also more confident the euro crisis can be beat. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Photo: DPA

Action! Babelsberg film studio fźtes 100 years

The world's oldest major film studio celebrates its 100th birthday this month with Hollywood stars and European players ready to toast Germany's mythic Studio Babelsberg outside Berlin. AFP's Deborah Cole reports. READ »

Photo: DPA

Minister calls for school 'Facebook lessons'

Family Minister Kristina Schröder has called on Germany’s high schools to teach the dangers of social networks on the internet. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Photo: DPA

German papers win paparazzi case in Europe

German media outlets did not infringe on celebrities' privacy rights when they printed sensitive photographs or stories, the European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday. READ »

Motherhood in the Fatherland
Photo: DPA

Immunisations and anal pharmacists

Motherhood in the Fatherland follows mum Sabine Devins as she navigates the cultural quirks of having a baby in Germany. In the latest instalment, she tackles immunisations and baby pharmaceuticals. READ (6 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Lost ancient artefacts found after 50 years

Nearly 50 ancient artefacts have been returned to the Bode Museum, Berlin, decades after being looted by Soviet soldiers. The find has sparked hope that more objects lost during the war will turn up. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Frozen kraut jam leaves autobahn drivers sauer

An accident involving two trucks, a car and a large quantity of sauerkraut caused a 10-kilometre traffic jam on the A5 motorway in the German state of Hesse on Tuesday morning after the German delicacy froze solid on the road. READ (7 COMMENTS) »

More Politics
More popular articles »
Highlights
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Germany is battling the increasingly widespread phenomenon of "burnout" which is supposedly costing its economy billions of euros each year.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
The economy in shambles, angry street protests and the government on the brink after passing unpopular reforms. But this is not Greece in 2012 – it was Germany a decade ago. Marc Young looks back to see an agenda for the future.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Germany’s public transportation largely operates on the honour system, which makes fare dodging easy. You can have your say on how Germany should deal with the problem.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Macho German football legend Rudi Assauer says he has Alzheimer’s Disease, an admission one expert told The Local could help stoke discussion of an illness often considered taboo.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
A 64-year-old tub of American lard has been deemed fit for human consumption by food safety authorities in the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Photo: Yves Gabriel
LIFESTYLE »
What's on in Germany: February 2 - 8
Photo: Columbia Pictures
LIFESTYLE »
The Local's English-language movie listings for Germany
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
As Hamburg’s legendary Reeperbahn strip gentrifies, Stephen Lowman reports how the city’s “sinful mile” is changing.
Photo: Bavarian International School
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A global education - a Bavarian community
Photo ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin



See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Sponsored Links
Jobs in Germany, in English

1188 jobs available
831 new jobs this week
157 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline

Noticeboard
SHOW ALL NOTICES »
Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
Toytown Germany
FULL INDEX »
English-speaking educators (native level)

Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!