With green energy, Fukushima governor wants to take prefecture out of nuclear shadow
Ten years after Japan's devastating nuclear meltdown, the governor of Fukushima hopes the prefecture may come out of the shadow of disaster and become symbolic for green energy, although some residents are skeptical.
The March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami ravaged northeast Japan and crippled the Daiichi nuclear plant. In addition, it triggered widespread opposition to nuclear power, complicating energy plan for resource-poor Japan.
Helped by about 250 billion yen in government support, Fukushima has become Japan's biggest commercial-level solar powered energy generator and dwelling to 1 of the world's most significant green hydrogen crops, the 10 megawatt (MW) Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Study Field.
"Fukushima must achieve 100% renewable power, as we won't rely on nuclear strength," Governor Masao Uchibori told Reuters.
The government and significant corporations are pushing hydrogen. A Toshiba-developed hydrogen plant opened this past year in Namie, a village evacuated following the meltdown, using an adjoining 20 megawatt (MW) solar farm to ability the process.
A fresh transmission line will finally add 360 MW of wind vitality, putting Fukushima on track for 100% renewable strength by 2040, Uchibori said.
"By building Namie the town of hydrogen, you want to support the regional economy and create a fresh symbol," Uchibori said.
Toyota Motor Corp's president visited the other day and pledged new pilot projects. But some residents say they need support with everyday life, not green energy projects.
"Namie needs more standard infrastructure such as hospitals that happen to be open for 24 hours and treatment homes for the elderly," explained one 27-year-old man.
He returned this past year, but without his parents because hospitals aren't start on the subject of the weekends. He declined to become named because of the sensitivity of the problem.
Uchibori said the neighborhood government really wants to restore infrastructure, develop new tasks and attract residents.
Tokuko Shiga, 73, a good shopworker, said projects weren't providing enough hometown jobs. Actually if there were jobs, various evacuees live elsewhere, she said.
Many green projects are intended for big companies and supplying Tokyo with power, only as the nuclear plant did, said Yauemon Sato, a Fukushima sake brewer who started a renewable power company.
His company has generated 6 MW of solar farms and programs more.
"We want a business design that helps the local community and promotes autonomy," he said.
Source: japantoday.com
