Coalition’s Nuclear Plan Faces Significant Delays Ahead
The coalition’s ambitious nuclear energy plan is encountering major delays and opposition from state leaders, raising concerns about its feasibility.
Nuclear Energy, Australia, Peter Dutton, Cost of Living, Renewables
Perth: So, the coalition’s nuclear energy plan is running into some serious roadblocks. An environmental law expert is saying it’s going to be a tough ride, especially with state leaders ready to push back.
Peter Dutton, the Opposition Leader, just rolled out this massive $330 billion plan. He claims it’ll help lower electricity costs for folks in Australia. But here’s the kicker: setting up seven nuclear reactors across five states would cost each taxpayer over $24,200. Ouch!
And get this, there’s no clear pricing model for what our power bills would look like. WA Premier Roger Cook isn’t buying it either. He called the costings a “con” and is even thinking about legal action to block a reactor in Collie.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has made it clear he’s not lifting the ban on nuclear power in his state. And Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan? She’s already told Dutton she won’t budge on her state’s ban either.
Even the new Liberal National Party leader in Queensland, David Crisafulli, is on the same page, saying his government won’t repeal the nuclear ban. It’s like a united front against this plan!
Professor Andrew Macintosh from the Australian National University pointed out that the federal ban on nuclear generators is just the start of the issues. The states are going to throw a bunch of challenges into the mix.
Sure, the federal government could grab land for these facilities, but that could lead to a mountain of debt. Plus, it won’t fix the problem of old coal-fired power stations shutting down soon.
Macintosh said if we want nuclear energy to play a big role in our power generation, we need to figure out how to fill the gap left by retiring coal plants. It’s going to take ages to get even one nuclear generator up and running, let alone a whole fleet.
And here’s another thing: nuclear energy could end up being twice as expensive as large-scale solar, according to some analysis. The coalition has been taking shots at Labor over rising energy bills while families are feeling the pinch.
With coal power plants expected to close by 2038, the push for decarbonization is going to cost a pretty penny. But hey, generating power from renewables is still the cheaper option!