06-01-2011, 11:39 AM
Quote:Europe's economic powerhouse, Germany, announced plans Monday to abandon nuclear energy over the next 11 years, outlining an ambitious strategy in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster to replace atomic power with renewable energy sources.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said she hopes the transformation to more solar, wind and hydroelectric power serves as a roadmap for other countries.
"We believe that we can show those countries who decide to abandon nuclear power - or not to start using it - how it is possible to achieve growth, creating jobs and economic prosperity while shifting the energy supply toward renewable energies," Merkel said.
Will Germany serve as an international trendsetter? Or will this only put Germany firmly in line for economic woes or some other dire consequence from which it will surely never recover, etc.?
As someone who thinks the use of nuclear power is shortsighted, I hope for the former.