Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in March of 2011, the Swiss were motivated to rethink their energy policy. The Swiss decided to phase out nuclear power, reduce energy consumption and concentrate on renewable sustainable energy sources. The first steps in this new direction were only approved by the Swiss Parliament this last September. One thing that was not settled was the date by which the five nuclear power plants in Switzerland would be permanently closed down. These power plants currently provide thirty-five percent of Switzerland's electricity.
The Swiss Green Party has put forward a new initiative contains specific dates for ending production of nuclear power in Switzerland. This initiative will be voted on by the Swiss people this coming Sunday. It calls for closing each plant when it has been operating for forty-five years. Three plants would be closed in 2017, one plant in 2024 and the last plant in 2029.
The cabinet of Switzerland's government and a majority of the political parties oppose the adoption of the Green Party initiative. Their concern is that ending the use of nuclear power on the Green timetable would be a threat to the energy security of the nation because it will not be possible to bring enough alternative energy sources online to replace the nuclear power plants as they are closed. If Switzerland cannot produce sufficient energy to meet its needs domestically, then it will have to import large amounts of energy from foreign sources. The critics of the Green plan say that such imports might overload the Swiss energy grid.
The supporters of the Green initiative say that it will be possible to bring enough new hydropower and renewable sources online by 2029 to replace the nuclear power plants that are being closed. Hydropower currently provides about sixty-five percent of Switzerland's electricity needs.
Critics also point out that if Switzerland shuts down their nuclear power plants and has to buy energy from foreign suppliers, that electricity may be generated by fossil fuel power plants. France has had to shut down twenty of their nuclear power reactors because of problems with substandard parts. They are buying power from Germany. Since Germany is shutting down their nuclear reactors, they have had to temporarily bring old fossil fuel power plants back online. If Switzerland has to buy electricity from Germany, they will cause increase emissions of carbon dioxide at a time when European countries are trying to reduce it. In addition, they will have to compete with France for Germany's electricity and their costs for power will rise.
The main issue for the supporters of the Green initiative is the safety of the Swiss citizens. Switzerland is a small country and all the nuclear power plants are located in densely populated areas. A major nuclear accident could threaten millions of Swiss and render a large part of the country uninhabitable. The fact that the reactors in three of the Swiss power plants are among the oldest operating commercial power reactors in the world makes the possibility of an accident all the more likely.
