9/28/2011 Swiss plan to phase out use of nuclear power gains full backing in parliament

Source: Associated Press
Date: September 28, 9:54 AM

BERN, Switzerland — A government plan to phase out nuclear power in Switzerland has moved a lot closer to becoming reality. Switzerland’s upper house, the Council of States, approved a measure Wednesday as expected to gradually shut down the country’s five nuclear reactors by 2034.

The endorsement, one month before federal elections, follows similar action by the lower house in June and reflects growing global skepticism over the use of atomic energy.

The Swiss use it to provide almost 40 percent of their country’s energy, which relies largely on hydropower.

The Cabinet favors decommissioning the country’s reactors after an average life span of 50 years and must now provide lawmakers with a detailed proposal on how to do that.