According to BC Hydro, in order for a hydroelectric project in British Columbia to be considered green, it must be:

• Renewable: The energy source must be replenishable by natural processes. For example, hydroelectric generation relies on water, which is a renewable resource. Natural gas electrical generation relies on a fossil fuel, a resource which is not renewable.
  
  
• Licensable: The project must meet all relevant regulations and standards as laid out by B.C. regulatory bodies including the British Columbia Utilities Commission, British Columbia Transmission Commission, Land and Water British Columbia, etc. 
  
  
• Socially Responsible: The project must be developed in a socially responsible manner with regard to aboriginal, surrounding community, economic, health and safety, and ethical issues. 
  
  
• Low Environmental Impact: The project must not have a significant negative impact on the environment such as damage to fish populations, endangered species or air quality. Each project is evaluated on a site and technology-specific basis.

Run-of-river hydroelectric projects must also meet additional B.C. provincial standards in order to be considered clean.  To be considered clean, the project must be less than 50 MW and the stream flow passing through the powerhouse must be basically the same as the natural stream flow (i.e. run-of-river), implying that there is no, or minimal, reservoir storage.