Germany nuclear power plant extension suspended

The Associated Press:

Berlin - Germany's government on Monday temporarily halted plans to extend the life of its nuclear power plants, as two hydrogen explosions at a tsunami-stricken Japanese facility spread jitters about atomic energy safety in Europe.

Neighboring Switzerland suspended its plans to build and replace nuclear plants and Austria's environment minister called for atomic stress tests to make sure Europe's nuclear facilities are "earthquake-proof."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said a decision last year to extend the life of the country's 17 nuclear power stations would be suspended for three months.

"During the moratorium, we will examine how we can accelerate the road to the age of renewable energy," Merkel said.

Monday's decision also means that two older nuclear power plants will be taken off the grid shortly – at least for now – pending a full safety investigation in the wake of the explosions at a nuclear plant in Japan, Merkel told reporters.

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