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Nuclear is unviable because of economics, not engineering

We couldn’t care less about how electrons are produced -- only the cheapest possible energy that meets a minimum standard of reliability and emissions. That’s what nukes the Coalition’s plan.

Steven Hamilton and Luke Heeney

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On the basis of many conversations about Australian energy policy over the years, we can divide the proponents of nuclear energy into three groups.

The first might be called the “ideologues”. They favour nuclear not because of its zero emissions, but despite it. Indeed, many are climate sceptics. They hate renewables because the left loves them, and they favour nuclear because the left hates it.

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Steven Hamilton is assistant professor of economics at George Washington University and visiting fellow at the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute at the ANU.
Luke Heeney is a graduate researcher at the MIT Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research.

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    Original URL: https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/nuclear-is-unviable-because-of-economics-not-engineering-20240623-p5jny1