The 1969–1978 Exhibition: Austria's Nuclear Power Plants and Energy History

This entry details Austria's energy plans for constructing three nuclear power plants between 1969 and 1978, outlining the historical context from the peaceful use of atomic energy to public debates and protests. It covers the initial approval of the Zwentendorf plant, early research reactors, and the growing public resistance against nuclear energy in Austria.

The page delves into Austria's engagement with nuclear energy planning between 1969 and 1978, a period marked by government initiatives and evolving public discourse. It begins by referencing the approval of the first nuclear power plant at Zwentendorf/Donau in Lower Austria by the ÖVP-led government under Chancellor Josef Klaus in 1969. The text traces the historical promotion of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, starting from the 'Atoms-For-Peace' exhibition and the establishment of the Austrian Atomic Energy Study Society in 1955. It notes the commissioning of research reactors in Seibersdorf and Vienna in the early 1960s, which garnered little public discussion at the time. The narrative then shifts to the growing public opposition, initially from experts and later from local citizens in St. Pantaleon-Stein, and most significantly, around the Zwentendorf site. Despite this growing resistance, the federal government under Chancellor Bruno Kreisky proceeded with an energy plan envisioning at least three nuclear power plants by 1990. However, the intense public debate surrounding the Zwentendorf nuclear power plant ultimately altered the course of Austria's energy policy, leading to a nationwide referendum against nuclear power.