INUVIK - A small nuclear power plant could provide all the electricity residents need and at a much lower cost, according to Peter Lang.

Lang's vision as president of Dunedin Energy Systems. He attracted a group of about 30 residents to a special council meeting held at the community centre Monday evening.

Peter Lang, president of Dunedin Energy Systems, demonstrates for a crowd at the community centre on Monday how one of his nuclear power plants produces electricity. - Andrew Rankin/NNSL photo

"What we're talking about is a change in technology, power to be generated for less cost and that savings is past on to the customer," said Lang, who travelled to Inuvik from Collingwood, Ont., on his own dime to make his slide show presentation.

Council invited Lang to town after Councillor Jim McDonald proposed the idea to his colleagues a couple of months ago after studying Dunedin Energy Systems online.

Just how low the rates could go remains to be seen, since the plant is still in its design stages, but Lang argued the electricity could be produced at a target cost of 20 cents kw/h, which would account for all overhead associated with running the facility.

In theory, the town would be charged with the responsibility of purchasing and operating the plant.

The process of producing the electricity is straightforward. A cylinder capsule placed underground containing about 235 kilograms of uranium zirconium hydride produces a mass amount of heat by nuclear fission - the splitting of atoms. Water enters the capsule and steam is formed. The steam powers a turbine generator where electricity is produced. The steam is condensed back to water where it then goes through a cooling process and is recycled through the system again.

The process involves no fossil fuel and creates no emissions.

The fuel capsules, he said, are designed with protective shielding materials that protect workers and the public from dangerous radio active material. Such plants are governed by strict government regulations ensuring they give off only very low levels of radiation.

Lang tried to dispel the myth that nuclear plants are enormous, outdated structures. In fact, more than 50 per cent of Ontario's electricity comes from nuclear energy, he said.

As proof, he provided an example of a small Siberian town named Bilibino that uses a nuclear plant as its main power source. He added that Toshiba is currently considering a 10 megawatt plant in Kivalina, Alaska, which boasts a population of 750 people.

Though the design process isn't yet complete, the company is looking to produce a plant that would produce between 500 kilowatts and 10 megawatts, more than enough to fulfil Inuvik's power needs. The cost of the facility would range from $15 million to $10 million.

The plant, along with the fuel source, would be constructed at a factory. Depending on the energy demand the fuel source could last for 20 years, while the plant would last 30 years before major refurbishments are required.

This isn't the first time Lang's been North advertising his company's product. In the past few year he's given presentations in Iqaluit and to officials at Diavik mine, which is looking desperately to limit its dependence on diesel generators and cut production costs.

Boasting stable operating and fuel costs, the plant would be a perfect solution for the mines and Inuvik, said Lang.

"It will reduce your costs, open up economic activity, there will be more employment, stable employment.

"It makes economic growth more predictable. Energy costs are a big cost in the North, that's all there is to it."

In order for the plan to work the town would have to access the electricity distribution system which is owned by NTPC, a crown corporation. That would involve negotiations with the territorial government for lease rights to use power lines in the community.

Resident Jerry Hamilton attended the presentation and afterwards had glowing praise for what he saw.

"I think it's the greatest thing that could happen to the North," he said. "It has all kinds of potential for opening up the North and I can't see anything else that has that potential to do that.

"The concerns are safety and cost. The government is looking after safety and the engineers are looking at the costs."

Mayor Denny Rodgers said he was also impressed with the presentation. He added the town plans to maintain ties with the company as well as explore all other alternative energy sources for the town.

He said residents can't continue paying exorbitant power bills.

"If the territorial government doesn't get serious about producing affordable, sustainable power, then we'll look at ... every option to make rates affordable for our residents."

One NTPC employee who attended the presentation questioned Lang about the risks associated with running the plant and said he didn't want to see Inuvik be treated as a "guinea pig." Lang responded that wouldn't be the case becausethe company and proposed plant would have to adhere to strict government guidelines.