Germany Starts Nuclear Energy Phase-Out

Germany's future is looking a lot greener with the closure of the Stade nuclear reactor power plant on Friday. But critics of Germany's ambitious nuclear phase-out law say the country still needs atomic energy.

There will be no cermonial shut-off switch for Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin to flick when the Stade nuclear power plant in northern Germany goes offline on Friday, but chances are the champagne corks will be popping in the Green party headquarters this evening.