Nuclear power in Europe

BERLIN Feb 28 (Reuters) - Five states controlled by the opposition Social Democrats (SPD) will challenge in Germany's highest court on Monday the centre-right government's decision to extend the lifespan of nuclear power plants.

Contesting the decision to keep Germany's 17 nuclear plants running for about 12 years beyond their original shutdown date, the states will file a challenge to the Constitutional Court, citing improper legislative procedure.

Controversial German writer and television presenter Charlotte Roche has offered to have sex with German president Christian Wulff if he blocks legislation to extend the operating lives of the country's nuclear power plants. In an interview with Der Spiegel magazine, the 32-year-old anti-nuclear activist said: "I am offering to sleep with him if he does not sign the legislation."
She added, "My husband agrees. Now it is up to the First Lady to give her consent."

FRANKFURT, Oct. 4 (Reuters) - German utilities' gamble of sacrificing near-term profits in exchange for extending the lifespans of their 17 nuclear plants is pressuring shares and may misfire if the political situation changes.

Last month, the government agreed with the four operators of Germany's nuclear power plants to extend the plants' life by 12 years on average in exchange for at least 31 billions euros ($42.45 billion) of payments.

BERLIN, June 7 (UPI) -- The German government will extend the running times of its nuclear power plants by no more than 10 years.

The decision is the product of lengthy government consultations over the weekend, the Berliner Zeitung newspaper reports. It would be a victory for Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen, who has campaigned for no or moderate running time extensions. A host of pro-nuclear state governors had lobbied to extend the running times by as much as 28 years.