Local economic growth without nuclear plants must be ensured: JCP Yoshii

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Local economic growth without nuclear plants must be ensured: JCP Yoshii

Japanese Communist Party Dietmember Yoshii Hidekatsu called on the government to ensure local economic development without nuclear power plants at a Lower House Economic and Industry Committee meeting on November 26.

The Japanese government, with its policy of promoting nuclear power generation, provides subsidies to municipalities hosting nuclear plants.

Yoshii revealed that some local governments have to rely on the national grant in order to pay for the construction of elementary and junior high schools, which is supposed to be covered by the budgets provided by the Education Ministry. "Local municipalities cannot achieve independent financial growth if they keep depending on such state subsidies," he said.

Stressing that solar power and other renewable energies have a great potential for economic growth in the future, Yoshii urged, "Japan should consider ways to develop sustainable energy generation systems and revitalize local economies without depending on nuclear power generation."

- Akahata, November 27, 2010