Except every time nuclear fission has ever occured, energy has been released. This is not up for debate. You cannot simply close your eyes to objective fact.
This isn't nuclear fission. What you're doing is saying that is A causes B, then the only cause of B is A. Sure, nuclear fission (A) changes the element (B), but it doesn't follow it is the only way to do so.
Remember that, under this model, the layers in a molecule change when changing state. It's the same basic principle, and you don't cause nuclear fission by boiling a kettle or using a freezer.