MONTREAL, Dec. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - Greenpeace may have uncovered the real cost of refurbishing the Gentilly 2 nuclear plant. The figure was seemingly buried amongst tones of documents released by Hydro-Quebec recently as part of the BAPE review.

Hydro Quebec currently believes that the Gentilly 2 reactor will require major refurbishment to operate beyond 2013 and the figure most often cited is $1.2 billion. The cost of refurbishing the Gentilly 2 reactor in Quebec was revealed in the uncovered 1998 study to be $2.3 billion.

"Whether the cost is $1.2 billion or $2.3 billion the cost of refurbishing the Gentilly reactor is unacceptable," said Steven Guilbeault, Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner. "Depending on the actual cost Quebec could build between 600 and 1400 megawatts of wind turbines for the cost of rebuilding Gentilly."

Greenpeace is making a presentation today to the Quebec government's Bureau d'audience publiques sur l'environnement (BAPE) urging them to reject Hydro Quebec's proposed modifications to the radioactive waste facilities at the Gentilly 2 nuclear reactor.

"Notwithstanding the discrepancies in cost the real issue is not how the radioactive waste facilities should be expanded, but whether Quebec needs a nuclear plant at all," added Guilbeault. "76% of Quebecers support wind energy while only 7% support nuclear energy.(1) In the meantime the Charest government is considering refurbishment of a nuclear power plant. Green energy alternatives such as wind are cleaner, cheaper, and safer than nuclear power."

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(1) Leger Marketing, "Rapport d'etude Greenpeace et Equiterre - Etude

quantitative portant sur les perceptions des quebecois envers les

approches a privilegier pour combler les besoins energetiques",

12 novembre 2004

Campaigner, cell: 514-231-2650; Mr. Guilbeault will be available for interviews at the BAPE hearing in Becancour, Eglise multifonctionnelle, 3025 avenue Nicolas-Perrot at 19h00/ ST: QuebecSU: MAV