[ RadSafe ] Germany & Nuclear Power

[Maury Siskel]

When she becomes Chancellor,  Angela Merkel will retake Germany from the 
so-called Greens and at least become friendly again with the West. And 
nuclear power will be preserved, if not expanded at last, in Germany. 
Nice to see one for the white hats for a change.
Cheers,
Maury&Dog     (MaurySiskel  maurysis at ev1.net)

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German Utilities May Run Nuclear Power Plants Longer Under CDU

June 8 (Bloomberg) -- Germany's four power-plant operators, including 
E.ON AG and RWE AG, would be allowed to run their nuclear power stations 
longer under a possible government led by the Christian Democratic 
Union, party head Angela Merkel said.

The CDU would allow utilities to run their nuclear power stations as 
long as it's technically possible and safe, Merkel said, speaking at a 
power industry conference in Berlin today.

The move would mean scrapping legislation from the governing coalition 
of the Social Democrats and the Green Party, aimed at phasing out 
nuclear power in Europe's largest power market in about 20 years. 
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is seeking a general election on Sept. 18, 
a year ahead of schedule. Polls show the CDU- led opposition has a lead 
over the governing parties.

E.ON could earn 4.6 billion euros ($5.7 billion) more and RWE 3.4 
billion euros, if they were allowed to operate their nuclear plants for 
45 years instead of 32 years, Handelsblatt newspaper reported on June 6, 
citing analysts at Sal Oppenheim.

Peter Dinkloh in Frankfurt at  pdinkloh at bloomberg.net.
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A little added perspective from Strategic Forecasting 8 JUN 05:

"... But before one gets too enamored of the idea of a pro-American 
Germany, bear in mind the place makes the person. Merkel's personal 
history constitutes a leading factor explaining her Atlanticism. Once 
she becomes chancellor -- which she probably will -- she will be 
speaking for all of Germany, not just East Germany.

East Germany was an occupied corner of Europe seeking to escape Soviet 
domination. As such, East Germans view themselves as needing an external 
partner for protection.

Germany proper, however, has no need of protection as it occupies a 
rather benign security environment and boasts Europe's largest economy 
and population. Emerging from occupation, it is now attempting to carve 
out a niche for itself in a changing world.

A Chancellor Merkel will face harsh resistance from a country 
experiencing its own internal geopolitical split. It is not an entity 
that will reflexively seek to subordinate its political and security 
desires to dictation from an entity on the other side of the Atlantic -- 
no matter what the personal preferences of its leader. ..."