Jens Spahn Calls for Debate on Restarting Germany's Nuclear Power Plants
Jens Spahn, leader of the CDU/CSU Union faction, has advocated for a renewed societal debate regarding the potential return to nuclear power in Germany. Speaking at an innovation congress, Spahn argued that restarting recently shut-down reactors could cost approximately nine to ten billion euros, significantly less than the billions required for new construction in other nations. This stance aligns with recent shifts in European Union energy policy, where Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeled the previous exit from nuclear technology a strategic error. While Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged the EU's assessment, he maintained that Germany's 2023 phase-out decision is irreversible. Conversely, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder supports constructing modern mini-nuclear plants, and the AfD party has submitted motions to restart reactors. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider criticized these pro-nuclear moves as backward-looking. The debate highlights growing political division over energy security and climate strategy in post-phase-out Germany, referencing the original 2011 decision following the Fukushima disaster.
Wire timeline
Jens Spahn Calls for Debate on Restarting Germany's Nuclear Power Plants
Jens Spahn, leader of the CDU/CSU Union faction, has advocated for a renewed societal debate regarding the potential return to nuclear power in Germany. Speaking at an innovation congress, Spahn argued that restarting recently shut-down reactors could cost approximately nine to ten billion euros, significantly less than the billions required for new construction in other nations. This stance aligns with recent shifts in European Union energy policy, where Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeled the previous exit from nuclear technology a strategic error. While Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged the EU's assessment, he maintained that Germany's 2023 phase-out decision is irreversible. Conversely, Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder supports constructing modern mini-nuclear plants, and the AfD party has submitted motions to restart reactors. Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider criticized these pro-nuclear moves as backward-looking. The debate highlights growing political division over energy security and climate strategy in post-phase-out Germany, referencing the original 2011 decision following the Fukushima disaster.
zeit