As a result, major renewable energy producers like Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) haven't felt much impact from the current global recession, which was clear from its first-quarter earnings report on May 6. Brookfield Renewable's power generation dipped a bit during the quarter due in part to some asset sales and weaker resources in some of its wind and hydro operations. The biggest contributor was its North American business, which benefited from above-average resource levels and improved power prices thanks to inflation-indexed rate increases.