Fukui gov't in favour of sticking to nuclear power

July 8, 2012

Fukui Pref. wants central gov't to keep nuclear plants

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120708p2g00m0dm003000c.html

FUKUI (Kyodo) -- The Fukui prefectural government called on the central government Saturday to continue to treat nuclear power as an indispensable source of electricity when deciding on the nation's future energy policy in the wake of the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant disaster.

The western Japan prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast made the call in a package of recommendations to the state ahead of requests to be made by central government ministries and agencies in the summer for their budgets for fiscal 2013 starting next April 1.

''It is necessary for the state to be responsible in maintaining the vitality of areas hosting (nuclear power plants) that have contributed to the nation's energy policy and supported the Japanese economy,'' Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa wrote at the beginning of the recommendations.

Fukui also sought increased subsidies to the prefecture to help ease its burdens as a nuclear plant host and prop up the local economy. Fukui hosts 14 reactors, the most among the nation's 47 prefectures.