<p>Parliament’s lower house voted 513-79, with eight abstentions, for the shutdown plan in Europe’s biggest economy. Most of the opposition voted in favour.<br /><br />Thursday’s decision sets Germany on the road to an ambitious build-up of renewable energy. Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen tells lawmakers: “This will be good for our country, because we all stand together. So let’s get to work.”<br /><br />Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government performed an about-face after Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant was ravaged by an earthquake and tsunami in March.<br /></p>
<p>Parliament’s lower house voted 513-79, with eight abstentions, for the shutdown plan in Europe’s biggest economy. Most of the opposition voted in favour.<br /><br />Thursday’s decision sets Germany on the road to an ambitious build-up of renewable energy. Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen tells lawmakers: “This will be good for our country, because we all stand together. So let’s get to work.”<br /><br />Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government performed an about-face after Japan’s Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant was ravaged by an earthquake and tsunami in March.<br /></p>