Nuclear proposal concerns northwest residents
By Jeanette Stewart, The Star Phoenix March 9, 2009 10:02 AM Be the first to post a comment
A grassroots group called Save Our Saskatchewan has formed in northwest Saskatchewan with a goal to bring information about a potential nuclear power plant to the community.
"We're working on trying to get the information out," said Meggan Hougham, secretary of the recently formed group, which she describes as citizens "very concerned" about nuclear power.
A meeting and question and answer period with Jim Harding, a former professor at the University of Regina, will be held at 7:30 p.m. today at the community hall in Paradise Hill, located northeast of Lloydminster.
Bruce Power, the company proposing to build a nuclear reactor in Saskatchewan, has spoken with landowners near the small community about locating the reactor in the area.
The non-partisan Save our Sask-atchewan (SOS) group wants to get more information on nuclear power out to the public before decisions are made.
A spokesperson from Bruce Power said the company talked to land owners in a "wide path," and the area includes all of the land outlined in a feasibility study released in late 2008.
The land within range for a nuclear plant consists of an area stretching from Lloydminster east through the Battlefords region and toward Prince Albert.
A water source is needed, and the North and South Saskatchewan rivers were identified as suitable. Adequate infrastructure and population are key to the placement of the plant, as well as proximity to electricity markets.
Bruce Power has spoken with landowners partly to find out "what their thoughts are about nuclear energy" and to find out if they would be interested in optioning land, said Steve Cannon, manager of investor and media relations with Bruce Power.
Cannon said Bruce Power has not narrowed its selection, but will be running a series of public meetings to determine the reaction of the communities.
The first in a three-day series of meetings will be held at the Prince Albert Travelodge on March 18. The second will be at the Best Western Wayside Inn in Lloydminster on March 19 and the third at the Don Ross Centre in North Battleford on March 20.
The project is in its "very early stages," said Cannon, adding an environmental assessment has not been conducted yet. "We think it's too early at this point for people to have made the decision either way."
If the community is not supportive, the reactor will not be built in the area. "We're confident that won't be the case," Cannon said.
SOS invited Bruce Power and Sask-atchewan Party MLA Tim McMillan to its community forum. Invitations also went out to local First Nations and the Fort Pitt Hutterite Colony.
jstewart@sp.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix
Souce