Economic and ecological consequences of shutting down nuclear plants for power generation

In the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident in the USSR, a polarization of political opinion is becoming apparent in the Federal Republic of Germany as to the necessity and justification of the peaceful use of nuclear energy. While the Federal German Government considers nuclear energy indispensable also in the long term, the opposition wants to opt out of nuclear energy. To put the political controversy on a more sober footing, several scientific expertises have already been drawn up on the consequences of a nculear phase-out. The Minister for Trade and Transport of the State of Bavaria commissioned the 'Ifo-Institut' to investigate the energy and national-economic, as well as the ecological consequences of dispensing at once or gradually with power from nuclear power plants in the Federal Republic of Germany, with special regard to Bavaria. The article summarizes the main results of the study. (orig.)