Japan PM hints at a nuclear-free energy policy

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s prime minister has hinted that the government will announce it will eventually abandon nuclear energy when it issues its new energy policy this week. News reports say the premier and Cabinet ministers have already agreed to the new policy.

Yoshihiko Noda said Wednesday during a debate among party leadership candidates that he respects that the majority of Japanese support a nuclear-free society. He also said he would take into account his ruling party’s recommendation last week to phase out Japan’s dependency on nuclear energy by the 2030s. And he said the new policy would be a “major shift” from Japan’s decades-long pro-nuclear energy policy.

Japanese media reported Wednesday that Noda and key minsters have agreed that the new energy policy will include eventually abandoning nuclear power.