Application to build a Nuclear Reactor in Northern Alberta/Peace River
Shaun Polczer, CanWest News Service
Published: Tuesday, August 28, 2007
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=d5f7f6ae-00ce-4...
The prospect of a nuclear-fuelled Alberta moved closer to reality after a Calgary-based company filed for a licence to build the province's first reactor.
Energy Alberta Corp. said late Monday it has formally requested permission from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to construct a pair of twin-unit Candu reactors about 500 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
"Building a nuclear power facility is a long and rigorous process. This is the beginning of a public and regulatory process that will include environmental, health and safety assessments," said Wayne Henuset, Energy Alberta's president and co-chairman, who termed the application a "historic moment" for the province's nuclear power industry.
"We are proud to be pioneers in bringing the benefits of clean, safe, reliable nuclear power to Alberta."
Energy Alberta will initially build one twin ACR-1000 that will produce 2,200 megawatts of electricity with a targeted in-service date of early 2017. The chosen site is on private land adjacent to Lac Cardinal, about 30 kilometres west of Peace River.
The units will be built by Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., a federal Crown corporation charged with commercializing Canadian nuclear technology.
News conferences will be held today in Calgary, Peace River and Whitecourt to provide more details about the project.
Environmentalists immediately gave short shrift to the news, expressing worries over impacts a reactor might have on the area's land and water.
"The nuclear power industry has a long history of over-promising and under-delivering, so I'm skeptical," said Marlo Reynolds, executive director of the Drayton Valley-based Pembina Institute.
"I'm still not convinced there's a need for nuclear power given all the other resources we have here in Alberta."
Reynolds said it isn't clear how the nuclear waste will be handled, and how much water will be needed to cool the reactor.
The institute won't support any form of government financial support for the project and Reynolds said all environmental impacts must be fully accounted for in the final cost of the facility, which is currently pegged at $6.2 billion.
"That business case has never been made clear . . . once you factor in the full cost, I don't believe nuclear power competes."
The new reactors will be subject to scrutiny under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and Energy Alberta said it welcomes a thorough environmental review.
In addition, the company said it has the support of the local community after what it described as extensive consultations this summer.
"We welcome Energy Alberta to our community," said Peace River Mayor Lorne Mann, who added the town sees nuclear power as an important part of a "sustainable" future.
"We understand that this is just the beginning of a lengthy process and we welcome the chance to become more informed on nuclear energy."
Peace River became the logical candidate to host the reactor after the council for Woodlands County, which encompasses the Whitecourt region, retracted its initial support earlier this month.
Power from the reactors would be sold to oilsands developments that use heat and electricity to generate steam, which is then pumped into the ground to enhance recovery.
After Athabasca, the Peace River area hosts the province's largest oilsands reserves that remain largely untapped.
According to Energy Alberta's website, nuclear power is an alternative to burning expensive natural gas to increase Alberta's oilsands production, which is expected to quadruple by 2020.
In addition, Henuset said nuclear power could reduce the province's carbon dioxide levels, which are already some of the highest in the country.
Henuset said public pressure to reduce Alberta's carbon dioxide emissions would inevitably lead to a nuclear future. "There's a real problem with the CO2 emissions and what's happening to our environment. This is the way to green up that growth plan."
© CanWest News Service 2007
