Antinuclear

Too dry for nuclear

Letter to The Adelaide Advertiser, Jim Allen, Panorama, 21 Aug, 26

Techno-optimists are entitled to their views about supplying nuclear power to data centres any time soon, but I am a realist.
We are the driest State in Australia.
Both water shortages and heatwaves are limiting factors.
Look at what’s happening in Europe now.
European nuclear plants can’t cope, and we need solutions that can withstand what global warming throws at us here.

Early data centres will no doubt locate where there is good transmission already – like the proposal at Bundey – and nearby, there are large wind and solar projects that either have been commissioned or have at least have necessary approvals in place. Again Bundey fits the bill.
Thirsty facilities of all kinds bring risks to our state.
Also, what assurance is there that there can and will be effective safeguards to protect consumers from further electricity price hikes regardless of energy sources relied on by data centres? A “let it rip” attitude to these projects could be an unmitigated disaster. You only need to look at a few examples in the US to see that.

August 25, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | environment