Germany could be one step closer to reopening its nuclear power plants.
For the first time, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated that he could support postponing the shutdown of Germany’s remaining nuclear power plants.
Scholz’s change of heart follows ongoing issues with the Nord Stream Pipeline, used to deliver gas from Russia to Germany. Others in the government had begun raising the issue but only now has the chancellor jumped in.
The pipeline was shut down a month ago for maintenance. However, since the work was completed, Germany has not received its usual flow of gasoline, reports The Wall Street Journal.
In the face of a potential energy crisis, Germany is reconsidering its decision to shut down its three remaining nuclear power plants.
Germany’s last three nuclear power plants are scheduled to be shut down by the end of this year. Before Germany started shutting down its plants, it had 17 nuclear power plants.
Despite this plan being in the works for a decade, Germany’s government is now debating whether to extend the shutdown to stave off a potential energy crisis this winter.
Many German homes rely on gas to provide heat. With winter quickly approaching, German officials are considering whether to push back the power plant shutdowns by a few months in order to have enough energy to make it through the winter, reports Politico.
In 2011, before Germany began shutting down the power plants, the plants produced 23% of the country’s electricity. As of 2021, Germany’s nuclear power plants still produced 12% of the country’s energy.
Though Germany has historically been anti-nuclear, new polling indicates that more Germans are in favor of extending the shutdown deadline. Around 70% of Germans are in favor of keeping the power plants online longer, reports The Wall Street Journal.
