Solar for All New Buildings in Japan

With Prime Minister Naoto Kan’s announcement to abandon the country’s plan to expand its nuclear sector with 14 new reactors in the wake of the Fukushima reactor meltdown, Japan is now seeking renewables to fill the gap.  Kan says Japan must “start from scratch,” with a new energy policy geared toward clean, renewable energy as well as energy conservation.  Part of the plant is a requirement to install solar panels on every new building constructed in Japan by 2030.

"Taking [Fukushima] as a lesson, we will lead the world in clean energy such as solar and biomass, as we take a step toward resurrection," says Kan.  

The official announcement of the solar building initiative is expected to come at the upcoming G8 summit in Deauville, France.  The summit will likely also serve as a platform for Prime Minister Kan’s announcement that Japan will continue to operate its remaining functioning nuclear reactors pending safety confirmation.

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