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Socio-economic Impacts

Point Lepreau Generating Station and Generation Cost

Nuclear generation cost is lower and much less volatile compared to other generation fuel costs such as oil or natural gas.
New Brunswick has one of the most electricity intensive industrial production structures among the provinces in Canada. The electricity intensity of industrial production for New Brunswick, measured in terms of kWh per $ of GDP, is among the highest in Canada and in the world, second only to Norway. Thus, a secure and competitive supply of electricity is of special importance to the economic well-being of New Brunswick.
The Point Lepreau Generating Station contributes towards a secure and competitive supply of electricity in New Brunswick, by producing 25-30% of the province's energy needs.

The Point Lepreau Generating Station employs about 700 people, with an annual payroll of about $50-70 million.
Using an employment multiplier of 2.6 and an income multiplier of 1.4, the overall economic impacts of the Point Lepreau Generating Station are:
- Employment impacts: A total of about 1,800 jobs of direct, indirect and induced jobs are created as a result of the operation of the Point Lepreau Generating Station, accounting for about 3% of total employment in the Greater Saint John area.
- Income impacts: A total employment income stream of about $70 million is injected annually into the local Saint John economy, accounting for about 5% of total employment income for the area.