Germany to Unplug from Nuclear Power by 2022

Finding alternative energy sources to make up for the reduced output will be the country's next challenge.

Germany will phase out nuclear power by 2022, a move prompted by the ongoing nuclear crisis at a plant in Japan. The German coalition government agreed to close the country's nine operating nuclear plants within the next 11 years after shutting down seven aging plants since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that badly damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in eastern Japan. The German public has been particularly outspoken about its opposition to nuclear power since that disaster, but there are also concerns among German industry leaders that the reduced energy output could severely impact the cost of utilities.