The Swiss government has followed the lead of many other countries in seeking to end its decade-old ban on nuclear power in the name of clean energy solutions. But researchers say the power source brings with it a set of specific, misunderstood hazards. The debate over the future of nuclear energy has returned to Switzerland. In response to the popular initiative “Electricity for All at All Times (Stop Blackouts)”, the Federal Council decided late last year to amend the Nuclear Energy Act, aiming to lift the existing ban on constructing new nuclear power plants. The ban, which came into force following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, had removed nuclear power from Switzerland’s energy strategy. Now the government has done an about-face, declaring nuclear power to be a necessary part of a balanced electricity supply. Its aim is to ensure energy security amid rising demand while helping Switzerland meet its climate goals. Nuclear power is experiencing a ...
