Renewable Energy Bill Passes Japan’s Lower House of Parliament

Japan’s lower house of parliament approved legislation to subsidize electricity from renewable sources as the country reduces its dependence on atomic energy after the Fukushima nuclear crisis.

Passage of the bill, which now goes to the upper house, sets the stage for Prime Minister Naoto Kan to leave office this month and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan to choose his successor. Kan’s popularity has fallen over his handling of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster and he pledged to step down once the Diet approves his legislative agenda.