On Saturday morning we met with Malcolm Stewart of Powerex. Powerex sells the excess electricity from BC Hydro, the main electric power company in British Columbia. As a wholesaler of electric power, Powerex sells (and at times buys) electric power from places as far as Saskatchewan, California and Florida.

Malcolm is spearheading the sale of Powerex's first batch GHG's from 2 hydro facilities, one outside Whistler and one on Vancouver Island.

Powerex keeps track of temperatures across North America to gauge demand and has in place a dynamic strategy to outbid and stay ahead of the competition.

These real time trades take place every hour on the hour, making this a 24/7 operation. BC Hydro, the source of Powerex's electric power, is in a unique position to profit from this game as most of their power is generated from Hydro projects. They have the luxury of being able to import power when it is surplus and cheap elsewhere, while hording their own (free!) water behind the dam.

When power is in demand, they simply open the gates, let it rip & fetch a premium. Most power plants outside BC are coal or gas fired, can't shut down, and must produce a minimum amount of power. Although there is some question concerning this issue, consensus has it that hydro projects are virtually GHG free. BC Hydro total generating capacity is 14,000 MW.

On the way to the Whistler facility, our stomach diverts us to Trolls in Horseshoe Bay.

We take note of the all-aluminum Suburban-for-on-the-water, which from the looks of the exhaust has a heafty CAT hiding in its belly.