Hydro-Québec manages one of the largest power grids on the continent. It is among the most profitable, the least expensive and the greenest. With a stunning renewable energy rate of 99.8 percent, Quebec has two-generation advance on places like California and Ontario. Combining a reporters? style with thought, philosophy and a touch of humour, Jean-Benoît Nadeau and Julie Barlow look into Hydro-Québec's future — with an eye also on the past — as the public utility marks the 75th anniversary of its founding. The future is now and it is electric. It spans widely diverse fields such as big data aggregation centres, exports to the United States, acquisitions in Mexico, Chinese buses, mega-batteries, bitcoins, charging stations and much more.

Julie Barlow grew up in Hamilton, Ontario, and has been working as a freelance writer since 1995. She writes for magazines and newspapers in Canada, including Chatelaine, Report on Business and L’actualité, and has published in The New York Times, USA Today and more. Author of eight books, including The Bonjour Effect, Julie is presently developing a TV documentary series based on her book The Story of French, written with husband and partner Jean-Benoît Nadeau. She lives in Montreal with Nadeau and their two daughters.

Julie Barlow's profile page

Born in Sherbrooke, Quebec, and a political science graduate of McGill

University, Jean-Benoît Nadeau once held a job for a total of 29 days and has

been self-employed for 35 years. A regular reporter and columnist to L’actualité

(Canada’s main national French magazine), he is also a past contributor to the

Report on Business Magazine, and has signed papers for various American,

Canadian and French publications. His freelancer status has allowed him to live

in various venues like Phoenix, Toronto, Paris and Montreal as well as undertake

radio, film and book projects, some of which with his spouse and partner Julie

Barlow.

Jean-Benoït Nadeau's profile page

"Nadeau and Barlow deftly combine firsthand observation, interview excerpts, and archival data in their text and provide accompanying diagrams, graphs, maps, and photos?. Engaging." (Louise Abbott, Montreal Review of Books)