Merkel agrees nuclear power deal

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 6.9.10
Publication Date 06/09/2010
Content Type

Germany’s government has struck a ground-breaking deal on energy policy on the 5 September 2010 that will see the lifetimes of the country’s nuclear power stations extended substantially – and utility companies in exchange paying towards the development of renewable alternatives. The power generators Eon, RWE, EnBW and Vattenfall will pay a nuclear-fuel rods tax of €2.3bn until 2016, a charge that will turn into a contribution to fostering renewable-energy sources in the years after.

Opposition political parties and environmentalists are against the changes.

Giant windparks, insulated buildings, electric cars and a European supergrid were also part of the German proposals: an ambitious but vague blueprint to launch a new era of green energy for Europe's largest economy.

Anti-nuclear protestors took to the streets of Berlin on the 18 September 2010 to voice their anger over the government's decision to extend the lifespans of Germany's atomic reactors. Organisers say around 100,000 people took part.

Related Links
Der Tagesspiegel, 20.9.10: Anti-atomic groups nuke Merkel (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/341911-anti-atomic-groups-nuke-merkel
Spiegel Online International, 7.9.10: Merkel's Masterplan for a German Energy Revolution http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,716221,00.html
Deutsche Welle, 18.9.10: Massive protests in Berlin against government's nuclear power policy http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6018507,00.html
Spiegel Online International, 17.9.10: Activists Hope for Impressive Showdown http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,718036,00.html
ESO: Background information: Merkel stands firm on nuclear tax plan http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-stands-firm-on-nuclear-tax-plan/
BBC News, 6.9.10: Germany agrees to extend nuclear plant life span http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11194117
France24, 6.9.10: Germany to extend lifespan of nuclear reactors http://www.france24.com/en/20100906-germany-nuclear-reactors-life-extended-12-years-energy-policy
Deutsche Welle, 5.9.10: German government decides to extend lifespan of nuclear plants http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5976412,00.html
Spiegel Online International, 6.9.10: Merkel's Government Extends Nuclear Plant Lifespans http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,715833,00.html
Wikipedia: Nuclear power in Germany http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_Germany
World Nuclear Association: Country Briefings: Nuclear Power in Germany http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf43.html
Deutsche Welle, 6.9.10: Merkel hails contentious new power policy as greenest in the world http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5978792,00.html
Spiegel Online International, 13.9.10: Merkel's Nuclear Plan Encounters Mounting Opposition http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,717092,00.html
Spiegel Online International, 14.9.10: United European Anti-Atomic Front Takes Shape http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,716887,00.html
Der Tagesspiegel, 7.9.10: Nuclear energy wins a reprieve (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief-cover/333131-nuclear-energy-wins-reprieve

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