[abt 2026 Grants] Energy Shift Program Selected Projects Announced

As the government significantly shifts towards utilizing nuclear power in its 7th Strategic Energy Plan, discussions surrounding energy policy are moving rapidly. The public interest incorporated association Act Beyond Trust (abt / Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Jun Hoshikawa) has selected two grant recipients for the 2026 'Energy Shift Program,' which re-examines the nature of sustainable energy from local perspectives. We support independent verification and policy proposals by citizens and researchers.

Social Background

In the 7th Strategic Energy Plan approved by the Cabinet in February 2025, the Japanese government made a major policy shift by removing the phrase 'reduce as much as possible' regarding dependency on nuclear power, and clearly stating considerations for restarting, extending operations, and building new/additional nuclear plants (*1). In April 2026, commercial operation of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant resumed, the first for Tokyo Electric Power Company since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident (*2).

On the other hand, regarding renewable energy expected to be a decarbonized power source, creating systems that coexist with local communities, such as consideration for landscapes and environments, and returning profits to the region, has become an important issue (*3).

Furthermore, as the Ukraine-Russia war prolongs and crude oil prices spike due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade crisis stemming from US-Iran conflicts in April 2026, it has been exposed once again that dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power is directly linked to geopolitical risks.

Energy policies involve issues of fairness, such as 'sustainability at whose expense and for whom,' including the relationship between municipalities hosting nuclear plants and power-consuming areas, and consensus-building with local communities when introducing renewable energy. From the perspective of its vision 'beyond ecology,' abt continuously supports the practices of individuals and organizations who scientifically and empirically confront these questions.

Program Overview

Program Name Energy Shift Division

Grant Period FY2026

Number of Selected Projects 2

Total Grant Amount 1,097,000 yen

Cumulative Track Record 15 years since FY2011, total 91 projects, 28 organizations, approx. 127 million yen

Secretariat General Comment

Amidst major policy shifts and growing instability in international affairs, we made our selection decisions emphasizing initiatives that re-examine energy-related issues from multifaceted perspectives. Through policy proposals, information dissemination, and locally rooted practices, we hope this will connect scientific knowledge with citizen perspectives to advance fair and realistic energy policy discussions. We hope that the accumulation of diverse discussions and broad sharing of their outcomes will serve as a force supporting decision-making in society as a whole.

List of Selected Organizations and Projects

Organization Name Project Name Number of Grants Received Grant Amount

Liaison Council of Residents of 4 Towns Hosting the Tomari Nuclear Plant Analysis, Verification, and Proposals for Nuclear Disaster Prevention and Evacuation Plans concerning the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant 4th time (2022, 2023, 2024) 847,000 yen

Tsuruoka Sustainable Society Research Institute Sustainable Offshore Wind Team Shifting Japan's Offshore Wind Power Generation to 'Sustainable Development': Scientific Verification and Policy Proposals based on the Operational Reality of 14MW Giant Wind Turbines 35km Offshore Taiwan New 250,000 yen

This is the 4th time the Liaison Council of Residents of 4 Towns Hosting the Tomari Nuclear Plant has been selected. To date, they have conducted resident surveys and created regional promotion plans aiming for local development free of nuclear power and carbon. As the restart of the Tomari plant becomes a reality, they will re-examine the validity of the evacuation plan.

*The motivation for application and key points of the selected organizations' projects are listed in the (Materials for Media) at the end of this release.

Selection Committee Comments

Ayako Ichino (Lawyer) I reviewed the proposals focusing on what outcomes they aim for and through what pathways. All the proposals we received this time, including those not selected, were attractive. I have high expectations for everyone selected from among them.

Shoji Ozawa (Environmental Journalist) Unfortunately, due to various circumstances, it was not selected this time, but as both the government and business world lean forward toward restarting nuclear plants, research and activities that clarify and convey the impact of nuclear accidents on the environment and local communities are crucial. We look forward to your continued applications.

Takako Momoi (Director, NPO Kiko Network Tokyo Office) I have high expectations for both the objective analysis and verification of the Tomari nuclear plant's evacuation plan, and the learning and implementation from Taiwan's pioneering cases amidst headwinds facing renewable energy.

Motohiro Yamazaki (Secretary General, NPO Citizen's Network for Global Warming from Our Feet - Edogawa) This year's screening was very difficult to judge; judgments made by reading the application alone sometimes reversed during the screening committee. That is exactly why I expect outcomes from these grant projects that will awaken thought in Japanese society.

Jun Hoshikawa (Representative Director, Act Beyond Trust) A truly green society based on renewable energy, not nuclear power.