Germany Swaps Nuclear Energy for Solar and Wind Power
source: http://truth-out.org/news/item/9932-germany-swaps-nuclear-for-solar-and-wind-power
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Germany Swaps Nuclear for Solar and Wind Power
Friday, 22 June 2012 12:37 By Oliver Lazenby, Yes! Magazine | Report
Wind Power(Photo: Ekhinos / Flickr)
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In response to the Fukushima meltdown - which did $50 billion in damage to Japan’s economy - Germany aims to close all its reactors by 2022.
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Germany, the world’s most aggressive adopter of renewable energy, is taking a bold leap toward a future free from nuclear energy. In March, the German government announced a program to invest 200 billion euros, or approximately $270 billion, in renewables. That’s 8 percent of the country’s GDP, according to the DIW Economic Institute in Berlin.
Last year, in response to the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a plan to close down all 17 of Germany’s nuclear reactors and replace them with renewable energy, mostly solar and wind power.
Germany has already closed eight nuclear reactors, and the rest will be shut down by 2022. For now, natural gas is filling the void left by nuclear power, which formerly produced 20 percent of the country’s electricity. Under Merkel’s plan, 80 percent of Germany’s energy will come from renewables by 2050, according to the German Advisory Council on the Environment. Studies by the council show that 100 percent renewable power is a realistic goal for Germany.
In contrast, the United States has been much less ambitious. The president’s “New Energy for America” plan aims to supply the country with 25 percent renewable energy by 2025.
Eighty percent of German residents want to see their country abandon nuclear power, but some Germans have also opposed new energy projects in their backyards. The website for “Wind Power Opponents,” Windkraftgegner.de, lists more than 70 protest campaigns, most of which are regional, grassroots groups organized to stop specific projects.
Germany’s renewables plan will be expensive, but so was the Fukushima meltdown—it did $50 billion in damage to Japan’s economy by some estimates. Dealing with the effects of climate change won’t be cheap either. Even German nuclear power companies are investing in the plan. Not only will it make Germany’s energy infrastructure among the safest in the world, it should provide many chances for economic growth, according to press statements by Philipp Rösler, Germany’s economics minister.
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Oliver is a freelance writer, former YES! intern, and farm laborer.
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Wetdog
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Germany is rapidly expanding their use of methane.(natural gas)
Methane is both a fossil fuel(natural gas) and a biofuel(biomethane). Both natural gas and biomethane are the same thing, CH4. Exactly the same stuff, they can be mixed together in any proportion with no loss of performance in any application.
Methane can be produced, low tech, inexpensively and in large volumes from any type of organic waste at all, including sewage and landfills. We've been doing it for over 160 years in recent recorded history.
Methane has a long history of use, is well known and has an extensive infrastructure network. Methane is the cleanest burning fuel by far that is available, and can be used for anything we need done, including running our vehicles. Methane is also cheaper than any other fuel available. And since it is renewable, we will never run out.
Methane is VERY green. And Germany is rapidly on coarse to be producing 20% of their methane usage by anaerobic digestion by the year 2015---5 years ahead of the original goal of 2020----and this is in spite of rapidly growing CH4 use as a transportation fuel.
The end by products of producing methane by anaerobic digestion are clean water and compost(the richest, most fertile topsoil possible). Both are valuable commodities in themselves.
- 11 months ago
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Wetdog
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Vierotchka
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It is a move in the right direction. However, the way Germany is planning to do so is mostly through building many new coal-burning plants and natural gas plants, which is not all that green.
http://thegwpf.org/energy-news/3117-germany-nuclear-to-be-replaced-by-coal-and-g...
http://oilprice.com/Energy/Coal/Nuclear-Plants-in-Germany-Sit-Idle-as-Coal-use-G...
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2011/07/13/germany-to-shovel-climate-fund-dollars-int...
Etc.
- 11 months ago
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Vierotchka
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alexandrekBack
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logic, smart, progressive!
what's stopping other countries???
- 11 months ago
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alexandrekBack
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cmc101
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thanks for a good post EV
the more the Germans show what they can do
the more the USA cops an excuse of ca(i)n't do
can does not have an i't in it - 11 months ago
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cmc101
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nanac
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cmc101:
Greed dictates/controls the agenda in America.
- 11 months ago
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nanac
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MSII
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nanac:
All about the holy-1% and their endless greed! Truth! What we get with laissez-faire crony-style-capitalism!
- 11 months ago
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MSII
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nanac
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MSII:
Most definitely!
- 11 months ago
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nanac
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Littlewolf
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I knew when Germany decided to abandon nuclear power & dedicate itself to solar & wind that finally it would take off. Thanks for the post - +^d
- 11 months ago
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Littlewolf
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cmc101
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Littlewolf:
welcome to the groups
- 11 months ago
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cmc101
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nanac
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I salute Germany for her wisdom! The Germans are smarter than many of the brain dead Americans who continue to promote the use of fossil fuel.
- 11 months ago
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nanac
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coolplanet
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Nobody thought this was possible until at least another decade.
A few weeks ago Germany supplied 50% of its electricity with solar on a Friday and Saturday. Amazing!
This is the best of news. I am proud to be part German.
2012 is here and it's not about the end of the world.
It's about a new beginning. - 11 months ago
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coolplanet
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artemis6
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Wise move ....
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artemis6
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PressCore
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Also by 2020 all gas burning engine cars will be outlawed from
driving on the public roads in Germany. Portugal's anti fossil
fuel ban will take place next year if it's not already in effect.
Good post EV. - 11 months ago
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PressCore
