Switzerland votes to ban new nuclear power plants

• 6 years ago (2017-05-22)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Nuclear 639

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Switzerland has voted to exiting nuclear power as part of an energy strategy that is intended to reduce consumption and increase wind and solar power generation.

Around 58.2 per cent of voters in a referendum on 21 May supported a ban on new nuclear power plants. However, a referendum in November also said that the country’s existing five nuclear plants can continue to operate. These five plants supply approximately a third of the country’s electricity demand. This plan proposed phasing out nuclear power production completely by 2029, with the first plants closing in 2018.

Environmental groups welcomed the broad support for the energy strategy approved in the referendum. Martin Bäumle, President of the Green Liberal Party, said that the ban on new nuclear plants would meet “one of the most important demands of Greens, encourage domestic energy production, and boost investment in Switzerland.”