The curtain is falling on Germany’s nuclear power industry, with the last three plants closing Saturday.
Germany has been committed to the end of its nuclear power program for years as the country pivots to renewable energy. According to CNN, the country has committed to generating 80% of its electricity via renewables by the end of the decade, with plans to close its last coal-powered plant by 2038.
“Germany’s phase-out of nuclear power is a historic event and an overdue step in energy terms,” Simone Peter, president of the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE), told CNN. “It is high time that we leave the nuclear age behind and consistently organize the renewable age.”
Nonetheless, not everyone believes abandoning nuclear power is the right move.
“While many countries in the world are even expanding nuclear power, Germany is doing the opposite,” Bavaria Governor Markus Soeder told NPR. “We need every possible form of energy. Otherwise, we risk higher electricity prices and businesses moving away.”
Only time will tell if Germany is making the right decision, or if nuclear energy should play a greater role in future energy production.
