decrease in nuclear, increase in renewables

Germany’s effort to change the nature of energy production and consumption goes back to 1980. A proposal to phase unsustainable forms of energy production (coal,nuclear,fossil fuels, natural gas) and increase climate protection, called “Energiewende”(Energy Transition) was introduced by a German environmental research institute called Oko Institut. Many aspects of the proposal, while initially strongly opposed, are now “facts” of renewable energy policy.

      Energiewende stresses avoiding overproduction, and works according to the supply of renewable energy resources, and not the demand. Other important aspects of Energiewende include the scaling down the production and power of large energy corporations, and butting more responsibility and focus on smaller, more sustainable, pockets of production. These “pockets” include turbines and solar panels, and the fact that they require cooperation from the population they serve, increases the sense of accountability and involvement in environmental protection

   Energiewende has been an effective model for change, and was central to the recent paradigm shift in energy policies in Germany and Europe. Giant energy corporations have given way to much smaller, community oriented pockets of energy production like wind farms and solar stations. The coordination of public and private efforts to improve efficiency has been remarkable, and without it Energiewende would have been impossible.
Germany is leading the charge for green energy policy within the European Union. Despite significant levels of of political disagreement, Germany is entering a new age of energy production. Progress in green energy policy is difficult to obtain because it requires widespread compromise and cooperation between parties whose interests are often quite different. While most would agree that steps need to be taken to increase efficiency and lower emissions, the best ways to bring about these changes are sources of disagreement and political stagnation. In recent years, the future of nuclear energy had been an obstacle on Germany’s road to green energy policy.

In the early 2000’s an amendment to Germany’s “Renewable Energy Act” (A 2000 proposal designed to promote investment in renewable energy and environmental protection, while driving down energy costs, and shifting the landscape of energy production and consumption) was added to “phase out” nuclear power plants across Germany. However, the coalition government led by German Chancellor Angela Menkel, intervened and extended the licenses for many aging nuclear power plants. There was a political impasse until a nuclear reactor in Fukushima Japan overheated, and exemplified the potential horrors of nuclear energy. Perhaps memories of the Chernobyl disaster were rekindled by the Fukushima disaster. Radiation from the Chernobyl disaster effected the lives of many Germans, and continues to today.
Germanys departure from nuclear energy is important to note because, it was in that period of change that Germanys impetus for progressive energy policy began gain support from opponents and effect results.

references :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/nov/26/german-renewable-energy-emission-co2

http://www.alternet.org/environment/while-germany-headed-80-renewable-energy-were-getting-left-dust

http://www.dw.de/what-exactly-is-germanys-energiewende/a-16540762