In a non-binding vote, residents of the County of Northern Lights opposed building a nuclear power plant in their region, though many indicated they need more details on the matter.

“It seemed like most of the people wanted more information, which is a reasonable request,” Gerry Cheezie, a former chief of Tthebatthı Dënésułıné Nation and the co-chair of Keepers of the Water, told CBC News after last week’s plebiscite on the Peace River Nuclear Power Project.

Cheezie himself is a prominent opponent of Energy Alberta’s proposal to build two to four Candu Monark nuclear reactors in Northern Lights County, about 30 kilometres north of Peace River. The reactors would be licenced to generate up to 4,800 megawatts of electricity over roughly 70 years of operation.

Energy Alberta says that’s equal to around 25% of the province’s current electricity generation.

Voters in the county were asked to vote on two questions:

• “Do you support the County of Northern Lights engaging with residents, businesses, and other levels of government to explore the potential impacts and benefits of a nuclear power plant within the County or neighbouring County?” and,

• “Do you support a nuclear power generation facility within the County of Northern Lights?”

The results showed 489 residents supported exploring the idea, while 260 opposed it. On the second question, 338 voted in favour of building a nuclear plant, while 450 opposed it.

 “They don’t support it [being built] and I’m happy with both of those responses,” said Cheezie, who questions the need for nuclear energy in a region with abundant gas supplies.

Energy Alberta CEO and President Scott Henuset said the Northern Lights result was “natural and expected at this early phase of a project of this scope and size.” The turnout for the plebiscite was about 32% to 34% of eligible voters, CBC News reports.

The responses were non-binding, meant only to gauge public support. An official notice clarified that the proposal falls under federal and provincial jurisdiction, so municipalities “do not have decision-making authority regarding whether the project is approved, licenced, or built.”

In nearby Manning, a similar plebiscite produced comparable results: 155 people voted in favour of engagement with 61 against, while 112 people opposed a nuclear project and 101 supported it.

The new nuclear proposal follows an earlier, similar one withdrawn in 2011, according to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government Consultation Department. That project, too, faced significant local opposition.

Documents obtained in 2010 by CBC News through Freedom of Information legislation showed that signs exclaiming a “No-to-Nuclear” message were targeted and taken down under direction of then-Peace River MLA Frank Oberle Jr.

His actions drew comment from Danielle Smith, then the leader of the Wildrose Alliance. She called it an example of a worrisome trend in that Progressive Conservative government.

“It seems like anybody who disagrees with a track that they’re on, they end up getting bullied and intimidated, and in this case, they get shut down,” Smith said.

The regulatory process for the Peace River Nuclear Power Project is expected to be complete [pdf] by 2028. If the proposal is approved, construction will begin in 2029.