The End of Japan’s Nuclear Renaissance? Not Just Yet.

The 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami that severally damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant have been described as ending the ‘nuclear renaissance’ in Japan. The government is in a hard place, trying to negotiate public opinion, rising distrust of the utility corporations and regulatory institutions, and now a self imposed energy crisis with the shutting down of all its nuclear power plants. As the energy-intensive summer approaches, the government’s short-term, populist solution must quickly evolve into something more robust and sustainable.