Nuclear energy plans stoke 'culture wars' in the bush

Fear, anger and division are gripping regional communities at the centre of the energy transition, with the coalition accused of stoking a "culture war" over nuclear power.

Reactors would be built at seven former coal power plant sites across Australia under the coalition's nuclear energy plan, including at Muswellbrook's Liddell station in the NSW Hunter Valley.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has pledged to release the costings of the plan soon, having slammed an energy generation cost update that showed solar and wind remained the cheapest forms of power.

Groups of Hunter Valley locals with opposing views on nuclear energy told a parliamentary inquiry that debate about the energy transition was fracturing rural communities.

Trevor Woolley, a retired power systems engineer, said nuclear was not the answer, as renewable projects already contributed energy to the grid.

The complex planning system combined with political scare tactics were only delaying regional prosperity and the shift to renewable energy, he said.

"There's so much fear, anger, false facts," Mr Woolley told the hearing in Muswellbrook on Tuesday.

"It's driven by a very poor planning system and it's driven by people.

"There is an opportunity to get wealth into regional communities, to safeguard them against drought and financial stress. It's being poorly handled."

The region is at the centre of a Renewable Energy Zone, with industry registering interest in up to 24 solar projects, onshore and offshore wind, and related transmission lines.

Valley Alliance, a group including farmers, teachers and healthcare workers, support nuclear energy in part because it would not require new transmission lines.

Consultation on the location of transmission infrastructure from renewable projects has been stressful and taken a toll on people's mental health, alliance president Tim White said.

"There is very, very little consultation other than shock tactics," Mr White said.

"We're being told what we're getting, not how we are getting it."

Robin Williams, the district president of the Mining and Energy Union and a self-described active member of the Labor Party, said the coalition's plan would not come to fruition.

There was an urgent need to support the mining workforce and diversify regional economies as coal plants closed, but energy companies were not interested in nuclear, Mr Williams said.

"The coalition has simply engaged in energy culture wars and that's what they are continuing to do now with their vague and unrealistic nuclear policy.

"(It) does nothing to provide jobs in the time frame our energy workers need."

Uncle Laurie Perry, chief executive of the Wonnarua Nation Aboriginal Corporation, said time was running out for the energy transition.

"The coalition needs to think again about the nuclear plans here in Muswellbrook, Wonnarua country," Mr Perry said.

"In fact, they need to think again about their nuclear plans across Australia.

"This is our voice."