Finally, the people are speaking their minds in Japan about the fate of nuclear energy in the context of this spring’s disaster.
Amongst many, I have cautioned against any radical push against nuclear energy as a potential source of power in the future. There are places and situations in which nuclear is not at the risk level that it is on the island of Japan, against a fragile coastline and in the middle of an earthquake zone.
Yet the people of Japan are saying “no more”. They are insisting that their country shape a new energy policy which does not include nuclear in the future. With the radiation far worse than thought (according to the linked article above), the pressure on Japanese legislators is to eradicate all potential for future nuclear reactors being built on that island.
And as nuclear is on the wane in popularity, renewables such as solar and wind will surely be looked at. The question is what choice does this small island really have because the amount of land required to replace nuclear, using wind and solar, is immense on a “watthour vs watthour” basis.
This solar blogger is keeping a close eye on how the Japanese government navigates this. I suggest that what they do may serve many other countries in how they regard nuclear as a future energy solution.
Sass