With respect to Pete Hourdequin's Aug. 7 letter, "(Prime Minister Naoto) Kan's vision is commendable": Renewable energy in its current state is NOT a viable solution for Japan. Solar power cells may continue to advance technologically, but they don't make sense for Japan geographically.
Wind farms are another nightmare, as they only produce energy in a limited range. Winds that are too strong or too weak won't work. Besides where do you put wind farms? Will you destroy the natural beauty of the coast, or tell farmers to let you build them on their land?
The only viable renewable energy source for Japan — if you gather the proper expertise — may be geothermal. Ten percent of the world's active volcanoes are in Japan. Kyushu would be a good place to start.
I love Japan and hope that the decisions made by this country are of common sense. Shutting down so many sources of energy in the highest demand period of the year in a decade-long deflationary economy is not a solution. It's economic suicide.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.