I have heard some other experts claim, without proof, that this approach, smaller-scale hydro and wind projects developed by independent producers, is the trend around the world. Well, what about neighbouring American states such as Washington, Oregon and Alaska? Are their electric utility companies buying run-of-river electricity from other companies, and if so, what kinds of prices are they paying? What kind of bid procedure do they use and how are environmental and recreational impacts measured?

Huh?

Back in early September, around the time the provincial government presented its revised budget, public affairs teams introduced some creative new messaging on this issue–backpedaling their earlier claims about an energy crisis in British Columbia–and repositioning their intention to export privately produced power to the US as part of its leadership role in the fight against climate change. The people of this province aren’t fooled. They know that many of the proposed private power projects carry significant environmental impacts–to our forests, water, fish, and wildlife–and that the only thing ‘green’ about these companies is the colour of the money they are siphoning from our Crown utility and into their shareholders’ pockets… $31 billion in energy purchase agreements… and counting.