SA Business Chamber survey reveals support for nuclear power

A huge majority of SA businesses grappling with soaring power bills are backing nuclear energy as a solution to bringing down prices. See the survey results.

Two thirds of South Australian businesses grappling with skyrocketing energy costs are now backing nuclear energy as a potential solution to bringing down prices, according to a South Australian Business Chamber survey.

The latest South Australian Business Chamber-William Buck Survey of Business Expectations, released on Tuesday, reveals the appetite for nuclear energy is on the rise as more businesses struggle under the weight of soaring power bills, which are forcing many operators to cut other costs in order to remain afloat.

According to the survey, 64 per cent of respondents either approve or strongly approve the addition of nuclear power into the state’s energy mix, up from 57.2 per cent a year earlier.

It comes after close to two thirds of respondents reported that their electricity bills had increased by more than 10 per cent over the previous 12 month period, with close to a quarter reporting an increase of 31 per cent or more.

SA Business Chamber chief executive Andrew Kay said the results showed there was a clear shift in attitudes towards nuclear energy.

SA Business Chamber chief executive Andrew Kay.

“We know from talking with our members, that energy can be quite an emotive subject,” he said.

“The Chamber has taken a fuel-source agnostic view – we want energy that is cost effective, sustainable and consistent in its supply, while helping us meet our net zero targets – and we remain open-minded about how that is delivered. It seems that businesses share this approach.

“With more than 40 per cent of businesses seeing their energy bills grow by 11-30 per cent in the past year, it has become a critical part of their cost structure, and their views were clear.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas has been open to the idea of nuclear power – previously opposing it only on economic and price grounds – while Prime Minister Anthony Albanese fiercely opposes the federal opposition’s plans to build seven nuclear reactors, including one at Port Augusta.

In Whyalla last week, Mr Albanese said the opposition’s policy involved “finding $600bn of taxpayers’ funds to have seven nuclear power plants that no one … wants”.

An Advertiser Facebook poll asking: “Do you support nuclear power in SA?” had close to 45,000 respondents by Monday. Of those, around 38,000 said yes – an overwhelming majority.

According to Tuesday’s survey, solar is the only energy source that South Australian business owners support ahead of nuclear, which they favour over alternatives including wind, natural gas and hydrogen.

Asked what their major concerns over nuclear power were, 59.1 per cent raised the issue of nuclear waste disposal, while 57.4 per cent were concerned about the initial cost of establishing a nuclear industry in Australia.

Close to 30 per cent of respondents held no concerns about adding nuclear to South Australia’s energy mix.

Originally published as SA Business Chamber survey reveals support for nuclear power