Source: Dow Jones Newswires

The Japanese government is likely to decide to eliminate all nuclear power over the next two decades in a new long-term energy plan--a decision that comes amid strong public opposition to atomic energy and ahead of national elections expected in the next few months.

Following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant accident in March 2011, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda set up a council to recommend a long-term energy strategy based around three scenarios: phasing out nuclear power completely by 2030, reducing dependence to 15%, or keeping it at current levels of around 20%- 25%. All the scenarios aim to increase the use of renewable energy to at least 20% from the current 10%.

The government is expected to announce a final decision in September.

While it had been widely expected to choose the middle option, government officials said Tuesday that the council is now most likely to select the zero- nuclear option.

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Read more: http://tinyurl.com/9m6hbhn

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Note: I had to use a URL shortener, the original link isn't pasting properly.

The article is also at the Wall Street Journal but behind a paywall: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443855804577603051383403854.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Source: Wall Street Journal

Japan's trade and industry minister on Tuesday said that phasing out nuclear power by 2030 is possible and would not be a drag on the domestic economy.

"We can do it," Japan's Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano told reporters at a press conference, referring to reducing Japan's reliance on nuclear energy to zero.

"I don't think the zero scenario is negative for Japan's economy. On the contrary, it can create growth" by driving technological innovation in renewable energy and energy efficiency, he said.

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Mr. Edano added that phasing out nuclear energy is as least as possible as the other two options. His comments come after Prime Minister Noda instructed his Cabinet late Monday to look into the implications of deciding to eliminate nuclear power.

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Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120806-716903.html