The Swiss people said yes to nuclear energy

The Swiss electorate has rejected 2 anti-nuclear initiatives. The first scheduled the decommission of all nuclear power plants by 2014 and the second proposed to continue for 10 years more the moratorium that froze in 1991 the construction of new nuclear plant and to impose a limit of 40 years to the operating life of a nuclear power plant. 66,3 % of the voters voted against the first initiative and 58,4 % against the second. The practical consequence of this voting is that the 5 nuclear units operating in Switzerland will continue to do so. The Swiss parliament has passed a new law about energy but this law has not yet been implemented. This law will allow the construction of new nuclear power plants, will frame the management of radioactive wastes, will organize a clear view on the production means of electricity, and will deny to any canton the right to veto the implantation of radioactive waste storage site on its territory. (A.C.)