Peace River Environmental Society co-vice chair Denis Sauvageau is speaking out in response to the formation of a new pro-nuclear power lobby group in the Peace River area. The news was highlighted in a recent article in the Edmonton Journal featuring Alfred Johnson and Ed Pimm, two men behind the formation of fledgling group called the Committee for Sustainable Regional Socio-Economic Development. Both men feel the proposed nuclear power plant project by Bruce Power near Peace River, much like the Daishowa Marubeni pulp mill built in the region years earlier, could provide much in the way of high-paying, steady jobs, as well as additional economic spinoff opportunities. But not everybody shares their optimistic outlook, especially Sauvageau, who finds it odd that a large corporation such as Bruce Power requires the help of ordinary citizens to promote its nuclear dreams in the Peace region. Sauvageau, who recently spoke with the Express about the article, refers to the comparison of a pulp mill and a nuclear power plant as being “irresponsible” in nature, adding there isn’t even a remote resemblance between the potential consequences of something going wrong with a nuclear power plant and a pulp mill. “There’s no way in the world that a pulp mill could even come close to a disaster resembling the Chernobyl incident,” he says. “Secondly, a pulp mill can merely be shut down by locking the door and walking away. You just can’t walk away from a nuclear power plant disaster.” Sauvageau also suggests the fact that businesses in the region are concerned about how openly supporting nuclear power might affect their business is a clear indication of deep resistance to the project in the region. “If we were considering the merits of building a chocolate factory in the region this debate would not be occurring. As one resident of the Weberville area stated in a comment to the Edmonton Journal “there is nothing peaceful about nuclear power.” I along with most residents in the Peace Country choose to live here for what it has to offer and not for what a large corporation wants to make of it,” he explains. Also speaking about the merits of the nuclear power plant in the Journal article was Brenda Brochu, president of the Peace River Environmental Society. She says she doesn’t see the new group being a significant threat to the anti-nuclear message. “I don’t think there’s a groundswell of people that will gravitate to that.” She acknowledged the concern of young people leaving the area because of the lack of jobs, but adds that focussing on environmentally friendly energy and industries is a much more effective way to bring money and jobs to the area. And Sauvageau wholeheartedly agrees. He’s backing that up with the results of a recently released report called “Greening the Grid” by Pembina Institute which clearly outlines the potential for renewable energy to supply Alberta’s electricity needs for decades ahead without compromising the environment. “I think that we need to look at new, innovative, and sustainable technologies which will demonstrate what human kind is truly capable of.” “A technology such as nuclear power which is unsustainable and ends up leaving the responsibility of dealing with the toxic waste to future generations is not acceptable. “We can do better," he says matter-of-factly.