When the Legislative Yuan in early 2001 passed a resolution saying that the construction of the Fourth Nuclear Plant had to go on, government and opposition also reached a consensus on building a "nuclear-free homeland." To realize this ideal, the Cabinet set up the Cabinet level "Nuclear-free Homeland Advisory Committee" on April 26, 2001 and on Sept. 13 last year it set up the Cabinet level "Nuclear-free Homeland Promotion Committee." Not long ago, Minister without Portfolio Yeh Jiunn-rong (
In 2000, the German federal government reached an agreement with nuclear power companies to eliminate nuclear power. Contents of the agreement include an unambiguous 32-year limit to the life of nuclear power plants. When the 32 years are up, plants will be decommissioned without any government subsidies. Then, last year it was clearly stated in the German Atomic Energy Act that no further permits to build nuclear power facilities would be issued. Of the 19 nuclear power plants operating in Germany, the newest was started in 1989. It is thus estimated that all commercial operations at the last nuclear power plant will cease in 2021. In other words, in 2021, Germany will achieve its goal of becoming nuclear-free.
In addition to setting clear limits to the operational service life of nuclear power plants, Germany has also adopted two important accompanying measures -- the development of renewable energy and energy conservation. To create economic incentives and reward the development of renewable energy, the German Bundestag passed the Act on Granting Priority to Renewable Energy Sources in April 2000. Germany also set targets for the development of renewable energy. By 2010, renewable energy shall make up for 10.3 percent of all energy, and 12 percent of national electricity production. By 2010, it shall make up 50 percent of national electricity production. The Energy Conservation Act was passed last year, fully subsidizing and rewarding energy conservation. The forecast target is to cut national energy consumption by 30 percent.
Germany's policy to eliminate nuclear power and the actively promoted renewable energy policy have led to a giant step forward in the development of renewable energy. In the year 2001, wind power alone saw an addition of 2,659 megawatts (mw) of electricity producing capacity -- almost as much as installed capacity at the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. Total installed wind generated power capacity in Germany has now exceeded 10,000mw. This is the equivalent of the installed capacity at Taiwan's four nuclear power plants put together. It also makes up one-third the globe's wind-generated electricity and half of Europe's, making Germany the world leader in wind-generated electricity.
Germany is indeed a worthy model for Taiwan in our efforts to create a nuclear-free homeland. Study Germany's methods, and then take a look at Taiwan's actions. Not even the Statute on the Development of Renewable Energy has been passed into law.
For the sake of Taiwan's sustainable development, we call on both the ruling and opposition parties to stop their meaningless infighting and pass the statute on the development of renewable energy (
Even though advocating for a nuclear-free homeland already was made clear when the Basic Environment Law (
What's more, there are plans to install a measly 80mw model field for wind-generated power and a model solar-power system and solar-power field generating 0.5mw by the end of 2007.
There are many advantages to renewable energy. From an energy efficiency perspective, it can promote energy diversification and strengthen energy safety and reliability. From an environmental perspective, it can effectively decrease the level of environmental pollution resulting from emissions and acid rain. From an economic perspective, it can create investment opportunities, promote industrial development, and create a multitude of employment opportunities.
We believe that to build a nuclear-free homeland, we must emulate Germany, actively develop renewable energy and greatly increase future proportions of renewable energy. To establish a green energy industry, a two-pronged renewable energy program should be aggressively initiated before 2008 -- one plan to build 1,000mw wind generated power production capacity and another to build 100,000 houses with solar power generation roof-tops. This is a road that will lead us to a nuclear-free homeland.
Wang To-far is a professor of economics at National Taipei University and a member of the Taiwan Association of University Professors
Translated by Perry Svensson
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