Choice Review

Imagine a multi-billion dollar project that can produce electricity with minimal harm to the environment, that can be completed on time and within budget, and that is cheaper than available alternatives. It may sound too good to be true, but this is the experience of James Bay, a massive hydropower project initiated by the author when he was premier of Quebec. Bourassa, a scholar-statesman, has produced a well-written and well-documented history of hydroelectric development in Quebec as well as a powerful polemic. The story of the James Bay complex, which exports surplus power to the northeastern US, provides valuable insights into the relationship between engineering, institution building, politics, economics, and finance. The visionary Bourassa makes a persuasive case for his ``Power from the North'' project, which aims to establish a bi-national partnership to develop the remaining vast hydro potential in Quebec for export to the US. Few Americans are aware of the magnitude of this potential, which is equivalent to about a dozen nuclear power plants. The quality of the illustrations, printing, and binding are superb. This fascinating study is highly recommended for college and public libraries, especially those concerned with energy and international relations.-M.T. Katzman, University of Texas at Dallas