Petition to oppose Small Nuclear Reactors in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan can meet its energy needs by increasing renewable and sustainable energy technologies and strategies such as solar, conservation, wind, geothermal, run-of-the-river hydro systems, and hydroelectric importation from Manitoba, among other sustainable energy options. Investing in these would create more jobs while producing energy sooner and at a far lower cost.
Nuclear power is not competitive. Its capital costs are exorbitantly expensive. Most types of nuclear power plants have cost two to four times more than their initial estimates.
SMR’s are NOT small. Internet images show a single reactor on a truck's flatbed trailer. Those images do not depict how large an actual SMR power facility will be. With containment building, shielding, exclusion zone, turbine, steam generator, etc., it will be as large as any other kind of comparable thermal power plant. For example, the 300 MWe GE-Hitachi SMR proposed for Saskatchewan would be at least as large as the Queen Elizabeth Power Plant in Saskatoon.
Human Health impacts near nuclear power plants are well documented. Nuclear reactors routinely, not only accidentally, discharge carcinogenic radioactive emissions into the air and water. And nuclear reactors sometimes have accidents which widely contaminate the air, land and water.
Plus, the waste from nuclear reactors is not like normal household garbage-type waste. It is radioactive and highly toxic. It would be a long-term financial, security, and environmental burden on current and future generations to manage this waste for thousands of years.
Sign here to add your voice of opposition to SMRs in Saskatchewan.
Who's signing
