German lawmakers voted to shut down all 17 of the country’s nuclear reactors over the next 11 years and pursue a renewable energy portfolio that would account for one-third of its energy resources. The vote marks a spectacular about-face on nuclear energy by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government.

After the recent disaster in Japan and news that the Tennessee Valley Authority is planning to build six “mini” nuclear reactors near a waterway in eastern Tennessee, it’s good to see the leaders of Europe’s largest economy taking the renewed, justified fear of nuclear power seriously. –ARK

The Guardian:

German MPs have overwhelmingly approved plans to shut down the country’s nuclear plants by 2022, putting Europe’s biggest economy on the road to an ambitious build-up of renewable energy.

The lower house of parliament voted 513-79 for the shutdown plan drawn up by Angela Merkel’s government after Japan’s post-tsunami nuclear disaster. Most of the opposition voted in favour.

… By 2020, Germany wants to double the share of energy stemming from water, wind, sun or biogas to at least 35%. Until this year, nuclear energy accounted for a little less than a quarter of Germany’s power.

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