Peace River residents question nuclear power pitch

A company that wants to build a nuclear power plant in north-central Alberta has made a pitch to Peace River residents, some of whomare against the project.

Executives from Energy Alberta Corp. were grilled by a crowd of more than 300 Thursday night in Peace River.

Peace River's civic leaders are in favour of the project, but some residents aren't.

Candy Lorenzes said it doesn't seem right, with Alberta sorich in oil, natural gas, coal, and the oil sands, that nuclear power should benecessary.

"There's a fear with nuclear power plants …" she said. "It doesn't get to just come in, we get a choice."

The company behind the project saysit's precisely because of powerhungry energy developments that nuclear power isnow neededin Alberta.

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. and Calgary-based Energy Alberta Corp. met with the Tory caucus last month to talk about building a $6.2-billion reactor in north-central Alberta.

Two communities are interested – Peace River and Whitecourt.

Don Good, Peace River's deputy mayor, said many in the room were positive about the project and more people will come around once they hearabout the benefits, including upwards of 1,000 full-time, high paying jobs.

But Peace River resident Dana Laliberte said the cost is too high.

"We need to look after our people and our families and our children and I have concerns," she said.

Energy Alberta Corp. president Wayne Henuset said he understands the resistance.

"[It's] no different than if you were to go down a new road. You want to understand the terrain before you go down it and that's what we're here for, informing the community and we're going to carry on doing that."