To fund the costs of an estimated 480 million Swiss francs ($489 million, 439 million euros) a year, consumers will have to pay a surcharge on their electricity bills. Currently, renewable resources account for under 5 percent of Switzerland’s energy output, compared with 60 percent for hydro and 35 percent for nuclear. Controversy over costsSwitzerland’s Energy Strategy 2050 was devised following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 and is spearheaded by energy minister and current Swiss President Doris Leuthard. It mirrors similar efforts elsewhere in Europe to phase out nuclear power – most prominently in Germany where the last reactor is scheduled to go offline in 2022. Swissmem, the electrical and mechanical engineering industry lobby, has also urged a “no” vote, citing the variability of renewable supply.

Source: Daily News Egypt May 17, 2017 21:22 UTC