Germany to speed nuclear energy exit - (replace nukes with renewabe energy)

[jpak]

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9MK70G01.htm

Chancellor Angela Merkel's government says Germany will replace its reliance on nuclear power by increasing renewable energy sources after Japan's Fukushima disaster.

Merkel told reporters that a bill on the overhaul of the energy sector would go before parliament by mid-June. The plan foresees an expansion of the electric grid, investment in renewable energy sources and increased efficiency.

A stinging loss in a regional election to the pro-renewable Greens party and calls from utilities companies to abolish nuclear power after the catastrophe at Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi plant forced Merkel's government to ditch a plan to extend reliance on nuclear reactors.

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[marmar]

1. Even though it's just Merkel trying to right her sinking political ship, so be it.....

...... But I suspect Germans will see through Merkel's moves and continue to elect the genuinely anti-nuke Green Party.

[dana_b]

2. my grandparents came from Germany, can I move there??

;)

[flamingdem]

3. The next chancellor of Germany is predicted to be a Green

Atom Kraft Nein Danke

[madokie]

4. That would be great

[kristopher]

5. Wonderful, wonderful news. Thanks for posting this. nt.

[txlibdem]

6. Truly wonderful news... for America

It's great for America, and American jobs, because Germany will have to live with intermittent power --unreliable power-- which will drive industries out of Germany, and hopefully to American shores but who knows. Option B is that they will logically analyze the situation and understand that they will need to have 5x the wind capacity and 3x to 4x the solar capacity, plus spend massive sums on storage technologies in order to turn intermittent energy sources into reliable 24/7/365 energy sources like nuclear power is.

When you level the playing field, the cost of renewable energy isn't so attractive any more.

That is why I say that American jobs will benefit: Germany's electrical grid will either be far more unreliable or their electricity rates will go way up. In either case, jobs will stream back to America and the German economy will dwindle.

Here in the USA if we adopt a 40/60 or 30/70 nuclear to renewable energy ratio we will have the best of both worlds: stable energy when it is needed and cost effective renewable energy for the peak times and to allow for growth. We will still need storage for the renewable energy but with 30% of our energy coming from nuclear (preferably Thorium cycle, not Uranium) we won't need as much storage as the Germans will and so our electric rates will be lower. Lower the cost of business, bring jobs home to America. And the bonus side: getting rid of fossil fuels will make our workforce less prone to taking sick days than countries that rely on coal and oil for even a part of their energy mix.

[jpak]

7. I don't think so

nope

[txlibdem]

8. Think what you like but do you have any facts to back up your opinion?

I'm really curious to see the facts and figures that show your opinion is correct.

[jpak]

9. I was responding to your fairy tale

You have no "facts" to argue

yup

[txlibdem]

10. No fact that there are 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week

and that energy is needed by humans during all 365 days of the year, every minute, every second of that time.

That is what you choose to call "no facts?" Very illuminating.