- Text
Japan to scrap nuke energy expansion
Chubu Electric Power's nuclear power plant stands at the coast of Omaezaki in Shizuoka prefecture, west of Tokyo, May 8, 2011. Three wind turbines went into operation near the nuclear plant last year; eight more turbines began operating in January. (Katsumi Kasahara/AFP/Getty Images)
TOKYO — Japan will scrap a plan to obtain half of its electricity from nuclear power and will instead promote renewable energy as a result of its ongoing nuclear crisis, the prime minister said Tuesday.
Naoto Kan said Japan needs to "start from scratch" on its long-term energy policy after the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was heavily damaged by a March 11 earthquake and tsunami and began leaking radiation.
Japan's nuclear plants supplied about 30 percent of the country's electricity, and the government had planned to raise that to 50 percent.
Kan told a news conference that nuclear and fossil fuel used to be the pillars of Japanese energy policy but now it will add two more — renewable energy such as solar, wind and biomass, and an increased focus on conservation.
Japan nuke plant to shut down over quake fears
Japan wants 3 nuclear reactors suspended
Complete coverage: Disaster in Japan
"We will thoroughly ensure safety for nuclear power generation and make efforts to further promote renewable energy," an area where Japan has lagged behind Europe and the U.S., he said.
Kan also said he would take a pay cut beginning in June until the Fukushima nuclear crisis is resolved to take responsibility as part of the government that has promoted nuclear energy. He didn't specify how much of a pay cut he would take.
The operator of the stricken power plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co., has been struggling for nearly two months to restore critical cooling systems that were knocked out by the disaster. Some 80,000 people living within a 12-mile radius of the plant were evacuated from their homes on March 12, with many living in gymnasiums.
On Tuesday about 100 evacuees were allowed into the exclusion zone around Japan's troubled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant for a brief visit to gather belongings from their homes.
Japan evacuees briefly let back into nuke zone
They were provided with protective suits, goggles and face masks to wear while in the zone, and were issued plastic bags to put their belongings in.
Residents have been pushing hard for weeks for permission to check up on their homes. The excursion marked the first time the government has felt confident enough in the safety of the area to sanction even short trips there.
- "Don't shoot": Qaddafi's last moments
- GRAPHIC VIDEO: Qaddafi's bloody body
- Libyan officials: Qaddafi killed in Sirte
- GRAPHIC VIDEO: Qaddafi wounded but alive
- GRAPHIC VIDEO: Chinese girl hit by truck, ignored by passers-by
- After toddler is left to die, China disquieted
- Clinton sees Qaddafi news on BlackBerry
- With warped vision, Qaddafi maddened Libya, West
- Rare Viking burial site found in Scotland
- Violence erupts amid massive Greece strike
- 23 women convicted of child pornography in Sweden
- Backpack drone a "magic bullet" for U.S. troops?
- Cockpit error sent 737 into Pacific nose dive
- Austrian women allege mass rapes at foster home
- Qaddafi reported dead
- Qaddafi hometown falls to Libya fighters
- Israelis 'shocked' at Egypt TV Schalit interview
- UN rights office urges probe into Gadhafi death
- Clinton to visit Tajikistan, Uzbekistan
- China's military in diplomatic charm offensive
- UN rights office urges probe into death of Libya's Moammar Gadhafi
on Facebook
- The death of Muammar Qaddafi
- Preview: Steve Jobs
- Qaddafi dead after Sirte battle, PM confirms
- America's new favorite team: Wounded Warriors
- "Don't shoot": Qaddafi's last moments
on CBS News
