The election of a ruling party candidate to the post of Tokyo governor last weekend is easing the way for Japan to restart its nuclear plants.

All of Japan’s nuclear stations are offline in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

But Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to restart the plants after they pass safety checks.

Abe hailed the election of Yoichi Masuzoe, whom voters chose over antinuclear candidates.

He told parliament he would proceed with plans to implement new energy guidelines that include nuclear power.

Abe said the guidelines were based on the realities facing Japan.

With its nuclear plants mothballed, the country’s imported fossil fuel bill has skyrocketed.