Environmentalists are calling an Alberta government document aimed at giving people an unbiased look at the possibility of nuclear power in the province "fraudulent."

The 60-page document, released Thursday, doesn't make any recommendations on the hotly contested question but is a "factual report" that allows a fully informed discussion, Energy Minister Mel Knight said.

But Gordon Edwards, president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility, disagreed.

"It's a fraudulent report," he said. "It purports to be describing not only the technology but the risks and the benefits, and it does no such thing."

The report lays out a number of issues around the controversial technology, touching on the province's rising need for electricity, as well as the various options available to meet it. It mentions advances in safety and in the disposal of radioactive waste, as well as the environmental plus that nuclear power "does not release carbon dioxide."

'It focuses on explaining and extolling the technology with a strong emphasis on engineering aspects and almost nothing on... long-term risks.'—Gordon Edwards, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility

What the report doesn't tell people are the financial, environmental and health consequences of embracing such technologies, said various groups lobbying against the introduction of nuclear power.

"All the facts aren't in this report," said Elena Schacherl of Citizens Advocating for Use of Sustainable Energy.

She pointed out when the energy requirements of building massive reactors, mining uranium, storing waste and decommissioning the plants are taken into account, nuclear power is far from carbon neutral. The massive amount of water needed to cool the reactors would dwarf the demands of the thirsty oilsands, Schacherl said.

The government failed to take into account many studies that suggest even low radiation levels may not be safe and relied on "nuclear industry spin" to gloss over the topic, Schacherl said.

The massive costs involved in decommissioning reactors also aren't fully addressed, Edwards added. "It focuses on explaining and extolling the technology with a strong emphasis on engineering aspects and almost nothing on... long-term risks," he said.

Province to consult with public in focus groups

The report was intended as an introduction to the basic issues involved, Alberta Environment spokesman Jason Chance said.

"We think the panel's done their best to get neutral and basic information out there so we can begin the discussion. Is this the end of the discussion? Not at all," he said. "Clearly there are some groups in Alberta that have already got their minds made up on the issue, and that's fine. We want to hear their concerns."

Both Knight and Premier Ed Stelmach have said the government will not take a stance on nuclear power until citizens have been fully consulted. They'll roll out that process next month, with focus groups made up of people plucked at random from the voters list, online feedback, mail-in forms and a public opinion poll.

But the government won't be holding town hall-style meetings.

"We've seen in public consultations with town halls in the past, you get a lot of folks that are motivated about a certain issue and they may go from community to community and that might prevent average Albertans from expressing their views," Chance said.

Peace River site preferred option

If the government doesn't hold public consultations, other groups may stage their own, said Brenda Brochu, head of the Peace River Environmental Society.

"It shouldn't be an invitation-only kind of thing. Any Albertan should be able to have input, and we should be able to hear what other Albertans are saying," Brochu said.

Bruce Power Alberta has picked a site about 30 kilometres north of Peace River as its preferred option for a potential nuclear plant in the province should the government give the OK. The proposed $10-billion facility is being touted as capable of producing enough electricity to power two million homes by 2017.

Alberta Liberal energy critic Kevin Taft said Albertans will do their own research and make their voices heard despite what information is put forth by the government.

"I think, frankly, the public's going to be so passionate on this issue that no matter what the panel says, the public's going to lead this charge."