1980 Swedish nuclear power referendum

November 2022 Sweden now has six nuclear power reactors in operation. A further four reactors have been completed and two are under construction. The Riksdag has decided that a referendum on the role of nuclear power in the future energy supply shall be held on March 23, 1980. The vote applies to three different proposals. 1980 03 23 y Sweden Option 1 Option 2 Option 3 904,968 1,869,344 1,845,911 3,153 6,321,165 Swedish nuclear power referendum result by county, 1980.png 180px Results by countyorange Option 1red Option 3blue Option 2 A non-binding referendum on nuclear power was held in Sweden on 23 March 1980.Elections in Europe: A Data Handbook Nohlen Dieter Dieter Nohlen Stöver Philip 2010 978-3-8329-5609-7 1858 Three proposals were put to voters. The second option, the gradual phasing out of nuclear power, won a narrow plurality of the vote, receiving 39.1% of the ballots cast to 38.7% for option 3. Option 1 was the least popular, receiving only 18.9% of the votes. The actual long term result of the nuclear power politics in Sweden after the referendum has been most similar to option 1 which did not change ownership of nuclear power plants. Some were fully private and other owned by the government, and this did not change much. High profits in hydroelectric generation were not excessively taxed. Although some of the nuclear power plants were decommissioned, the Swedish government decided to reverse the policy.https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/New-Swedish-government-seeks-expansion-of-nuclear#:~:text=Sweden's%20six%20nuclear%20power%20reactors,voted%20to%20repeal%20this%20policy. 2022-10-17 World Nuclear News New Swedish government seeks expansion of nuclear energy Details of the options Option 1 The ballot for Option 1 (sv Linje 1) read: Nuclear power shall be phased out, while taking consideration of the need for electric power for the maintenance of employment and welfare. In order to, among other things, lessen the dependency on oil, and while waiting for the availability of renewable energy sources, at most 12 of the reactors shall be used, be they existing or under construction. No further expansion is to take place. The order in which the reactors will be taken out of production will be determined by security concerns. There was no text on the reverse side of the ballot.Nohlen & Stöver, p1863 Option 2 The front side of the ballot for Option 2 (sv Linje 2) had almost identical wording to that of Option 1. However, on the reverse side, the following text was added: Energy conservation shall be pursued vigorously and stimulated further. The weakest groups in society shall be protected. Measures shall be taken to control consumption of electricity, e.g. prohibiting direct electric heating in the construction of new permanent housing. Research and development of renewable energy sources shall be pursued under the leadership of the community [government].Environmental and safety improving measures are to be carried out. A special safety study is to be made at each reactor. To allow insight by the citizens a special security committee with local ties is appointed at each nuclear power plant. Production of electricity from oil and coal is to be avoided. The community [government] shall have the main responsibility for production and distribution of electric power. Nuclear power plants and other future installations for the production of significant electric power shall be owned by the state and by the municipalities. Excessive profits from hydroelectric power generation are reduced by taxation. The last point was controversial and the most important reason why the Moderate Party would not consider supporting Option 2. Option 3 The front side of the ballot for Option 3 (sv Linje 3) read: NO to continued expansion of nuclear power. Phasing out of the currently operating six reactors with at most ten years. A conservation plan for reduced dependency on oil is to be carried through on the basis of: continued and intensified energy conservation. greatly increased development of renewable energy sources. The operating reactors are subjected to heightened safety requirements. Non-fueled reactors will never be put into production. Uranium mining is to be prohibited in our country. The reverse side of the ballot read: If ongoing or future safety analyses demand it, immediate shutdown is to take place. The work against nuclear proliferation and nuclear weapons shall be intensified. No fuel enrichment is permitted and the export of reactors and reactor technology is to cease. Employment will increase through alternative energy production, more effective conservation of energy and refinement of raw materials. Results ChoiceVotes%Option 1904,96818.9Option 21,869,34439.1Option 31,846,91138.7Blank votes157,1033.3Invalid votes3,153–Total4,781,479100Registered voters/turnout6,321,16575.6Source: Nohlen & Stöver By county CountyOption 1Option 2Option 3 Blank voteTotalVotes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Stockholm County230,04525.41295,83732.68350,94238.7628,5033.15905,327Uppsala County25,21918.052,64237.658,05141.44,2733.0140,185Södermanland County23,94616.5667,19246.4648,11033.275,3673.71144,615Östergötland County42,34318.9395,02242.4977,27834.569,0114.03223,654Jönköping County29,71717.0667,13738.5671,31440.955,9843.44174,152Kronoberg County16,90917.5435,66937.0140,70242.233,0983.2196,378Kalmar County23,46817.3054,50740.1953,56839.504,0723.00135,615Gotland County4,16113.6710,47434.4114,84348.769643.1730,442Blekinge County15,11618.1241,35949.5924,14128.942,7883.3483,404Kristianstad County35,93723.7462,62941.3847,49031.375,3123.51151,368Malmöhus County124,58428.36190,65143.40109,31024.8814,7453.36439,290Halland County24,69518.7045,81334.6956,49842.785,0593.83132,065Gothenburg and Bohus County80,58419.30145,79134.92177,13642.4214,0343.36417,545Älvsborg County39,79716.4591,74837.92101,86942.118,5083.52241,922Skaraborg County24,55716.1352,24834.3270,07946.035,3633.52152,247Värmland County25,22415.0267,23941.6863,92939.634,9243.05161,316Örebro County21,97513.7969,12743.3763,16239.625,1363.22159,400Västmanland County29,37520.0264,66644.0846,92231.985,7383.91146,701Kopparberg County19,24911.9165,72540.6771,11244.005,5313.42161,617Gävleborg County17,14510.3269,91142.0874,08044.595,0003.01166,146Västernorrland County15,83110.0967,92343.2868,66143.754,5192.88156,934Jämtland County7,2509.5831,25941.3035,12046.402,0582.7275,687Västerbotten County13,7349.8156,82740.5865,93847.093,5272.52140,026Norrbotten County14,1079.9167,94847.7556,65639.813,5892.52142,300Total904,96818.941,869,34439.121,846,91138.65157,1033.294,778,326 See also Nuclear power in Sweden References External links http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____223857.aspx Folkomröstningar 1922-2003 21 December 2007 Statistics Sweden sv https://web.archive.org/web/20120402200018/http://www.scb.se/Pages/TableAndChart____223857.aspx 2 April 2012 dead http://www.val.se/det_svenska_valsystemet/folkomrostningar/nationella/index.html Nationella folkomröstningar Swedish Election Authority sv https://web.archive.org/web/20100817192957/http://www.val.se/det_svenska_valsystemet/folkomrostningar/nationella/index.html 17 August 2010 live Category:Referendums in Sweden Category:1980 in Sweden Category:1980 referendums Category:Nuclear power referendums Category:March 1980 in Europe Category:Multiple-choice referendums