From the D'Oh! Department
Japan has at least temporarily shut down an industry that once generated a third of its electricity. Japan's PM has called for re-starting the plants, but waffles by saying he will wait for approval from communities near the plants. The country has avoided obvious power shortages by a drastic conservation program. Alternative sources have been ramped up, at greatly increased cost. Economists blame Japan's recent annual trade deficit, the first in over 30 years, on these higher energy prices. Japanese have expressed conflicted feelings on this issue. They want the benefits of cheap power with no risks. |