Voters in Switzerland have approved a new energy law that radically shifts the national strategy to promote renewable energy, ban new nuclear power plants, and lower energy consumption.

Final results from Sunday's polling showed that 58 percent of voters endorsed the Energy Strategy program, far outnumbering those in regions where the country's aging nuclear power plants are situated who rejected the reform with clear majorities.

Kernkraftwerk Leibstadt, KKL

"The Swiss population has said 'no' to the construction of new nuclear power plants and yes to the development of renewable energy," said Swiss Green party president Regula Rytz.  "The conditions have also been set whereby the economy and households will need to take responsibility for the future," she added.  "It's absolutely magnificent."

There is no set date to decommission the nukes, and the vote allows Switzerland to take the next steps in a long process.

"After six years of debate in parliament and at committee level, a new chapter in Switzerland's energy policy can begin," said Energy Minister Doris Leuthard.  "But there is still a lot of work to do."