The swiss have rejected the Green Party’s initiative to speed up the phasing out of the country’s nuclear power plants by 54.2% in a nationwide referendum.<br /><br /> Only six out of the country’s 26 Cantons in predominantly French-speaking areas came out in favour of the proposal.<br /><br /> The country’s five nuclear plants currently provide around 35% of its electricity with almost two-thirds coming from hydroelectric power thanks to the alps. <br /><br /> “TheAtlantic: Swiss voters reject swift nuclear power phase-out https://t.co/tcjS6aJ0D4 pic.twitter.com/LRVRyDZ8NT"talknuclear— ted gruetzner (@ProfcTed) November 27, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> The movement to speed up the phase out was born in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan, when Germany eliminated 40% of its nuclear reactors.<br /><br /> ‘No’ supporters argued that the early closure would simply mean that Switzerland would be more reliant on imported fossil fuels and nuclear power from France.<br /><br /> A yes vote would have seen the reactors Muehleberg and Beznau I and II closed next year, followed by Goesgen in 2024 and Leibstadt in 2029.<br /><br /> The Swiss government said that the initiative would have left insufficient time for the development of solar and wind alternatives.<br />
