Green Power Generation Green Criteria

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BC Hydro evaluates potentially green project proposals against detailed low environmental impact and social responsibility criteria.

To briefly summarize, for a project to be considered green it must be:

• 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.

To view or download the detailed low-impact and social responsibility criteria, please see 2002/03 Green Power Generation Green Criteria [PDF, 1.4 Mb]