Swiss voters have supported the Government’s plan to give billions of dollars in subsidies for renewable energy, ban new nuclear power plants and help bail out the struggling utilities in a binding referendum.
Provisional figures showed support at 58.2% under the Swiss system of direct democracy, that gives voters final say on major policy issues.
The Swiss initiative reflects the efforts elsewhere in Europe to reduce dependence on nuclear power, partly sparked by Japan’s Fukushima disaster in 2011. Germany is aiming to phase out nuclear power by 2022, while Australia banned it decades ago.
According to Energy Minister Doris Leuthard, the results show the population wants a new energy policy and does not want any new nuclear plants. She also added the law would boost domestic renewable energy, cut fossil fuel use and bring down reliance on foreign fuel supplies.
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