July 8, 2011
Japanese Communist Party representative Inoue Satoshi at an Upper House Budget Committee meeting on July 7 revealed that the government has used only 650 billion yen in tax money for renewable energy development while pouring more than two trillion yen into nuclear energy promotion measures over the past five years, demanding a full-scale development and utilization of renewable sources of energy.
Inoue pointed out that the Ministry of Environment estimates that the potential power generation with renewable energy will be as much as forty times of that of 54 nuclear reactors.
He also revealed the fact that Japan has spent 350 billion yen, annually collected as “the promotion of power resources development tax” by adding it to original electricity charges, to promote nuclear energy production.
He argued that the tax, as the name suggests, should be used to promote renewable energy development in addition to other energy-related budgets.
Prime Minister Kan Naoto said, “I agree with your point. To make a shift in budget allocations will greatly enhance the renewable energy potential.”
As for the government subsidies to municipalities where nuclear power plants are located, Inoue explained that the money is given based on the number of operating reactors, so a delay in the restart of reactors means less subsidies to local communities.
Furthermore, reactor-hosting municipalities receive a premium in addition to the subsidy if they accept a longer interval between regular inspections. Inoue demanded that the government stop exercising such a dangerous “carrots and sticks” tactic.
Inoue proposed that the energy subsidy system be used to create incentives for municipalities to decommission nuclear reactors and to support efforts towards renewable energy development and utilization.
Inoue pointed out that the Ministry of Environment estimates that the potential power generation with renewable energy will be as much as forty times of that of 54 nuclear reactors.
He also revealed the fact that Japan has spent 350 billion yen, annually collected as “the promotion of power resources development tax” by adding it to original electricity charges, to promote nuclear energy production.
He argued that the tax, as the name suggests, should be used to promote renewable energy development in addition to other energy-related budgets.
Prime Minister Kan Naoto said, “I agree with your point. To make a shift in budget allocations will greatly enhance the renewable energy potential.”
As for the government subsidies to municipalities where nuclear power plants are located, Inoue explained that the money is given based on the number of operating reactors, so a delay in the restart of reactors means less subsidies to local communities.
Furthermore, reactor-hosting municipalities receive a premium in addition to the subsidy if they accept a longer interval between regular inspections. Inoue demanded that the government stop exercising such a dangerous “carrots and sticks” tactic.
Inoue proposed that the energy subsidy system be used to create incentives for municipalities to decommission nuclear reactors and to support efforts towards renewable energy development and utilization.
