Caldicott exposes the Environmental Assessment loopholes and how easy it is to "duck an environmental assessment." He details the potential ecological impacts, water licensing and climate change implications from so many of these projects that, under the myth of producing "green energy," may, in fact, cause severe damage to forests and fish habitats.

He also provides many particulars on the political games, policy issues and the corporations trying to be part of this very lucrative business, initiated by the BC government, implemented by BC Hydro, and funded by BC rate payers.

No wonder so many companies are fighting to get a piece of the pie. We even learn that a few powerful foreign companies are already in the picture.

He reviews First Nation’s involvement, the reality of their rights, the huge pressures they are under and the potential economic gains.

One of the projects that Caldicott explored in depth was Plutonic Power’s East Toba River and Montrose Creek. We learn lots of interesting twists, angles and history of this project.

BC Hydro may try to make us believe that these projects have many benefits, and the BC government wants us to believe that impacts on rivers and the fish and the wilderness are not something to be concerned about. The truth is very different according to Caldicott’s paper.