24/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Switzerland considers early shift from nuclear. The Swiss Federal Council has asked new Energy Minister Doris Leuthard to consider three scenarios for the future of national energy policy, with and without nuclear power. The first would see the current energy mix remain unchanged, with 40% of energy generated from nuclear power, but with early replacement of existing power stations by a new latest generation power station to provide maximum security. The second option would not replace the existing power stations until the scheduled end of their operational lives. The last, and most ambitious, scenario would see an early move away from nuclear energy by shutting down the existing reactors before their expected close-down dates. (E.H./transl.rt)