Existing BC Hydro Green Energy Criteria

Green Energy criteria identified below will be replaced with new evaluation criteria for new green energy supply contracted by BC Hydro through a green power call(s). Independent Power Producers (IPPs) with existing Electricity Purchase Agreements (EPAs) will be asked to transition to EcoLogo; however, if they are not able to obtain EcoLogo certification, they will remain subject to BC Hydro's green energy criteria (noted below). Those projects that are successful, will be certified under the Environmental Choice Programs (ECP). Existing criteria includes:

• Renewable: The energy source must be replenishable by natural processes within a reasonable length of time - at the longest, within about one average human life span. For example, hydroelectric generation relies on water, which is a renewable resource. Natural gas electrical generation relies on a fossil fuel, a resource that does not meet this renewable criterion.
• Licensable: The project must meet all relevant regulations and standards.
• Socially responsible: The project must be developed in a socially responsible manner. This criterion must be judged on a site-specific basis. Every project within BC Hydro's green acquisition process is reviewed according to specific social responsibility criteria.
• Low environmental impact: The project must avoid unacceptably high environmental impacts such as damage to fish populations, endangered species or air quality. This criterion is evaluated on a site and technology-specific basis. Every green project within BC Hydro's acquisition process is reviewed according to the criteria that correspond to the project's technology.

Transition to EcoLogo

The ECP has been adopted as BC Hydro's third party certification process to evaluate IPP green power facilities. The ECP uses renewable low-impact criteria to assess existing and new IPP facilities. Facilities meeting ECP criteria for electricity will be eligible to use the EcoLogo mark, indicating their facilities generate "green power." ECP has criteria to assess water-powered, biogas-fuelled, biomass-fuelled, solar-powered and wind-powered generators. The evaluation occurs when the facility is operational which means that not only is the facility required to meet existing provincial regulatory requirements, but must demonstrate that it operates in an environmentally responsible manner as well.