Social Impact Assessment of Alternative Energy Production in Alberta

Unknown

No 139519, Project Report Series from University of Alberta, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology

Abstract: Energy production is a large part of Alberta's economy, with direct impacts on rural landscapes and host communities across the province. This report provides an analysis of social impacts from alternative energy production, with a focus on biofuels, solar, geothermal and wind power technologies. Using comparative case study methods, research includes key informant interviews, published literature and other sources of available data from project proponents and rural community sources. The report utilizes a common assessment framework that is based in community capacity and adaptation. Results point to the ways in which alternative energy can enhance community capacities through contributions to economic infrastructure, alternative sources of employment, human capital development and social mobilization. Research also notes the importance of public participation as a key aspect of project development, especially in the early planning and implementation phase of the project. Finally, research indicates that although renewable energy has great potential in Alberta, conventional sources of energy production are perceived to be adequate and cost effective in many ways, resulting in a reluctance to invest over the short term in somewhat expensive and controversial technologies.

Keywords: Community/Rural/Urban Development; Resource/Energy Economics and Policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 84
Date: 2012-11
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/139519/files/PR-12-01Rev.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:ualbpr:139519

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Project Report Series from University of Alberta, Department of Resource Economics and Environmental Sociology Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by AgEcon Search ().