Nuclear phase-out can make Germany trailblazer - Merkel

[Forkboy]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said a decision to phase out nuclear power by 2022 can make her country a trailblazer in renewable energy.

Ms Merkel said Germany would reap economic benefits from the move.

Germany is the biggest industrial power to renounce nuclear energy, in a policy reversal for the governing centre-right coalition.
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"We believe we as a country can be a trailblazer for a new age of renewable energy sources," the German chancellor was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13597627

[NYC_SKP]

1. She's right, she's smart, and Germany is far more likely to succeed that we are.

Good for them, I hope we can move in that direction.

[napoleon_in_rags]

2. I saw this on Huffpo. Right on, again.

They're talking about laying a road map for other nations, that would be great! Lets see some of that German engineering rising to these environmental challenges.

[Hardrada]

3. They did well with rocket science in WWII. They should do

well here also.

[napoleon_in_rags]

4. I mean yeah, these people invented jet engines.

The fruits of a science culture going back to the 19th century. Even beyond Germany, I feel like scientific innovation is our greatest untapped resource. Release the Kraken I say! :)

[Fumesucker]

9. Frank Whittle first patented the turbojet in 1930..

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bljetengine.htm

He was British, not German.

[napoleon_in_rags]

11. Hans von Ohain is considered the designer of the first operational turbojet engine.

From the link you sent.

[burrowowl]

5. K&R

[ladjf]

6. This would be a wonderful outcome. It shows what intelligence

can do.

[NNN0LHI]

7. Recommended

[Karenina]

8. Many trails have already been blazed.

As an ESL teacher, coming into contact with many young corporate workers building or renovating homes, I was amazed by the commitment to geothermal and solar. Many are on track to receive compensation for what they contribute to the grid. The fly in the ointment has ALWAYS been the fossil fuel industry and their economic stranglehold.

[jtrockville]

10. Germany, in large part, has Dr. Hermann Scheer (R.I.P.) to thank.

Amy Goodmand interview with Dr. Hermann Scheer
(Aired Oct 2010)
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/15/hermann_scheer_1944_2010_german_lawmaker

MIT Clean Tech/GABA Lecture with Dr. Hermann Scheer
(circa 2007 ?)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3929386359015893141#

My take-away from listening to these:
Do rely on current energy providers make the switch to renewables - they are the only entity who benefits from delay.

[hunter]

12. Meanwhile France expands nuclear power plans despite Fukushima...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13595455

So Germany will shut down its nuclear plants, import French nuclear power, and burn more coal and natural gas.

What kind of trailblazing is that?

"Trailblazing" would be outlawing coal, banning fossil fuel imports, or something equally radical. Shutting down obsolete nuclear plants sometime (cough, cough, maybe) by 2022 is not "trailblazing." That's political posturing.