Last month marked an important milestone for Western Canada’s energy future, as leaders from across the country gathered for the inaugural CNA West conference, hosted by the Canadian Nuclear Association. Among them was Amy Langhorne, Energy Alberta’s Project Director, who joined the conversation to discuss the momentum building behind the Peace River Nuclear Power Project -and why the next five years will be decisive for nuclear development in the West.

CNA West was designed with one purpose: to bring the right people together at the right moment. With electricity demand surging, industries expanding and communities needing dependable, clean power, WesternCanada is facing unprecedented energy pressures. Nuclear is emerging as the backbone solution - and conferences like CNA West are shaping the path forward.

The sessions throughout the event made one thing clear:success over the coming decade will depend on the groundwork we lay now. That means conversations, collaboration and community engagement. These aren’t abstract steps - they’re the real, practical work needed to move from planning to construction.

Energy Alberta’s Peace River Nuclear Power Project is leading this shift from idea  to action. With the potential to deliver up to 4,800 MW of clean, reliable, 24/7electricity, it represents one of the most significant opportunities in Western Canada’s energy history. This Project would not only power communities and industry with stable, emissions-free energy, it would create thousands of good jobs, build a Western Canadian nuclear supply chain and strengthen long-term energy independence.

But as Amy Langhorne emphasized during her interview at CNA West, building a project of this scale is about more than megawatts. It’s about people, communities and trust. It’s about ensuring benefits flow locally, bringing Indigenous Nations and Communities as partners into the process early and preparing the next generation of operators, technicians and skilled trades.

CNA West showcased a region ready to lead - and ready to work together. The momentum for Western Canada’s nuclear development has never been stronger.

The next five years will define the future. And Alberta is ready.

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