See: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/05/japanese-proposed-tariffs-submitted
Quote: "In what may be the most significant renewable energy policy development worldwide in years, Japanese authorities are circulating proposed feed-in tariffs that-if confirmed by the Minister of Trade later this month-could lead to a crash renewables program. Equivalent to putting the country on a war-time footing following the Fukushima nuclear disaster, the unusually high tariffs will lead to a massive rush of renewable energy development. . . . First they precipitously closed down 30% of their generator capacity. Now they propose crash development of wind and solar power. Japan is lagging in these fields, and it does not have much onshore wind capacity. In my opinion a crash program will end up wasting a lot of money. If the public demands an end to nuclear power, it would be better to phase it out over 10 years or so. Also, instead of just throwing money at solar and wind energy, they should reduce the cost of connecting renewables to the network, and regulatory barriers. This author agrees with me, concluding: ". . . The next few years will determine if Japanese planners and politicians acted prudently or made injudicious decisions by their inability or unwillingness to take action sooner in a more deliberative fashion. The lesson for other countries is clear: delaying the switch to renewable energy until confronting a crisis is more expensive than taking action when all is going well." It seems like a bad plan, but on the other hand you have to give them credit for acting decisively. A bad plan is better than no plan. - Jed
