Activist calls for no nukes

Sarnia This Week
April 29, 2009
Heather Wright
 

Activist calls for no new nukes

The head of Ontario's Clean Air Alliance says while the province is pushing green energy alternatives, it's relying on an expensive old standby - nuclear energy.

 Jack Gibbons was in Sarnia for Earth Day. He says the province is about to sign a $26 billion contract for two new nuclear reactors.

 That will mean the province will rely on nuclear energy for 60 per cent of its power for the next 60 years.

 "The government is doing a lot of talk about the Green Energy Act, which is good. But it's diverting people's attention from the central thrust of their energy policy which is to increase the dependence on nuclear power," says Gibbons.

 Gibbons says nuclear energy is one of the most expensive forms of power and it creates dangerous waste.

 "Why would we want to invest $26 billion more to build two new nuclear reactors when we can keep the lights on in Sarnia and in Ontario at a much lower cost with a combination of conservation, renewable energy and high-efficiency, small scale heat power plants."

 Gibbons says recent power usage statistics show there is a glut of nuclear power and the new units are not needed.

 In the last month, large industrial users have been given credits for using excess power.

 He says the public should appeal to the politicians to stop the expansion before it is too late.