Why The German Negativity Over Nuke Power?

 This goes to three primary reasons:

1.  Chernobyl.  This 1986 incident wasn't detailed to the public (Germans) for at least a month, and when they started to grasp the after-affects (radiation on German crops/gardens)....it sent everyone into a serious amount of negativity over nuke power.  

I would suggest for almost a full-year, this was one of the top five topics in the minds of Germans and openly discussed on public news a good bit.  

For the German nuclear industry, it put them under a microscope and an intensive amount of review.....even though Chernobyl had nothing to do with them.  

2.  Fukushima.  This 2011 incident simply iced up the cake and was the final nail for Chancellor Merkel to push for a complete closure to nuke power.  Even for the right-of-center CDU folks.....probably half of them agreed with Merkel, and the whole of the Green/SPD Parties were in total agreement.

3.  Disposal of leftover material.  Going back to the early 1980s.....this was a major issue and the federal government found that no state (of the 16) was willing to have a disposal burial site in their region.  

Even today, I would suggest that via ARD/ZDF (the two public TV networks)....there's at least six reports a year on the disposal process and continual reminders about the 'evils' of disposal. 

So then, you ask....why is the power industry so pro-nuke power?  Generally, when it comes to forecasting and having an economic model that truly projects the cost and pay-back....nuke power is the perfect answer.  

German nuke plants were always built with a 20-year pay-back situation (where companies basically broke even), then a renewal 'pact' was put up for a 2nd twenty-year situation.....with renovation as a key element.  So in this case.....the second twenty years was the profitable period.  

With the EU's interest in stamping nuke power as 'clean'?  What'll happen in Germany?  The anti-nuke sentiment will continue, but I expect some company to come forward by the end of 2022 and apply for license....then be told 'NO' by the Green element of the government.  Then a court episode will occur.....leading to a 18-month court path....all the way to the EU.  By fall of 2023, I suspect the EU court will say to German authorities (primarily the Greens).....clear the path and approve the license for the construction.  

Somewhere around 2027....I expect the new plant (or two) to be built, and by 2028....it'll be providing electricity to the grid.  

The Green agenda?  Well....here's the chief problem.  If you say that carbon is your chief problem and lesser-used carbon in the electrical process is the answer....especially in getting the Earth's temperature down.....then nuke power is the answer.  Kinda funny in a way.....if you'd never made this carbon business a BIG deal, then you could retain the anti-nuke stance and proceed on.