Radioactive cows: vandals hit ads touting nuclear power in Alberta
Radioactive cows: vandals hit ads touting nuclear power in Alberta
By Sandra Farias, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Last Updated: 13th August 2009, 3:08pm
People apparently opposed to nuclear power in Alberta have depicted their views on at least one billboard that touts the controversial technology.
Bruce Power, an Ontario company exploring nuclear development in the province, has put up billboards pitching the power source as a clean energy alternative in four Alberta communities.
But one of the company’s ads recently was painted over with a glowing, dead cow with a nuclear symbol branded on its rump and the slogan “A New Brand of AB Beef.” There was also a radioactive symbol painted in the “o” in Bruce Power’s name.
Albert Cooper, a spokesman with Bruce Power, shrugged off the graffiti.
“It’s not a big deal,” he said. “We simply replaced the board and moved on.”
Still, photos of the billboard were circulated among anti-nuclear advocates.
Bruce Power, which is lobbying to build between two and four reactors in Alberta, has been running its ad campaign since the spring.
“We want people to know about our company, and billboards are one way to let people know our name and about our presence,” Cooper said.
Nuclear development has been a contentious issue in the province, which is considering it as an option to ease dependence on coal while expanding the power supply.
The province says Alberta’s peak demand for energy could be over 16,800 megawatts by 2024 — a 74 per cent increase over 2007.
Environmentalists argue nuclear power is dangerous and advocates for other forms of energy argue it’s too expensive.
Peace River in northwestern Alberta has been cited as a possible location for a reactor.
Brenda Brochu with the Peace River Environmental Society said one of the main concerns is that a plant could cause increased rates of cancer, especially leukemia among children.
Tom Weis of the Pembina Institute, an environmental think-tank, questioned how quickly a nuclear project could be developed and how much money it would cost.
“We know we can get renewable sources into the ground much faster and at lower cost with a lot less of environmental risks.”
The Alberta government says no final decisions have been made. A survey, online consultations and six stakeholder meetings have been held to gauge opinion.
Alberta Energy spokesman Jerry Bellikka said the feedback won’t be compiled until the fall.
As for the graffiti, “it sounds like someone has taken offence on an advertisement when the government doesn’t even have yet a nuclear policy for the province,” Bellikka said.
