New working group brings local voices into the socio-economic assessment process

Energy Alberta is taking an important step forward on the Peace River Nuclear Power Project with the launch of a collaborative Socio-Economic Working Group.

As the Project advances through the federal impact assessment process, this working group will play a key role in enhancing the inclusion of local knowledge, priorities and expertise in how potential effects - and opportunities - are understood.  

What Is a Socio-Economic Assessment?
Understanding how a project could affect community way of life

A socio-economic assessment looks at a central question: How could this Project change the way people live, work and experience life in the region?

To answer that, studies will examine a  range of interconnected factors, including:

• Population and demographic trends.  

• Economic conditions, including jobs and business opportunities.  

• Community infrastructure, services and housing.  

• Community health, safety and well-being, including the consideration of both biophysical and social determinants of health.  

• The experiences of different groups within the population.  

A Collaborative Working Group
Bringing the right people to the table

To support a community-centred approach, Energy Alberta has established a working group that will continue throughout the assessment period. The first meeting in spring 2026 brought together participants from nearby local governments (i.e. planning, economic development representatives), Indigenous organizations, and Project representatives to discuss group’s approach and preliminary scoping of topics of study. This is a starting point, and participation may evolve to include key service providers and third-party technical specialists as work on key topics progress. In parallel, Energy Alberta will continue working directly with Indigenous Nations and Communities to collaboratively assess impacts related to Indigenous rights, interests and ways of life.

How the Work Will Unfold
From baseline conditions to impact assessment

The socio-economic assessment is anticipated to take place over the next two years:

Building the Foundation - 2026/2027:

• Scoping topics and study areas so we focus on what matters most.  

• Gathering baseline information about existing conditions.  

Analysis and Assessment - 2027/2028:

• Assessing potential impacts across environmental and socio-economic areas, including identifying mitigation and management measures to reduce potential adverse effects and enhance potential positive effects.  

This includes examining:

• Economic conditions, such as labour force capacity and needs, training and local business capacity, provincial and national economic benefits.  

• Social conditions, such as population change, land and resource use, housing, infrastructure and services, and community character.  

• Health conditions, including both biophysical and social determinants of well-being.  

• Indigenous-specific considerations, including potential effects on traditional land use, cultural heritage, Indigenous rights, and community wellbeing.  

The assessment will also apply a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) lens to understand how different groups within the wider population - including potentially by age, gender, culture and geography - may experience impacts differently.

Looking Ahead
Building understanding together

Over the two years, ongoing engagement and research will continue to refine the understanding of potential Project effects on community life.

The Socio-Economic Working Group will be an important part of that process - creating a space where local knowledge and expertise can directly inform how the Project is planned and enhancing space for collaborative solutions to emerge between government, service providers and the Project- and for Project scenarios to be considered in public service planning.

By working together, Energy Alberta aims to ensure the Peace River Nuclear Power Project is developed with a clear understanding of its potential impacts - and a strong focus on delivering long-term benefits for communities across the region.

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