A Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker yesterday questioned the government’s sincerity in promoting green energy by pointing to its reported plan to place a cap on subsidies for local governments to install solar energy devices.
DPP Legislator Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) told a press conference that the Executive Yuan was showing disrespect to President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) because Ma has said he wished to promote environmental protection and green energy.
Tien said solar and wind power were sustainable forms of energy, adding that while nuclear energy may look attractive now, uranium resources will eventually be depleted and it is very destructive to the environment.
“I cannot understand why the government would want to scrap eco-friendly policies while supporting the petrochemical industry and the naphtha cracker plant [in Yunlin County],” she said.
Gloria Hsu (徐光蓉), a professor at National Taiwan University’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences and former chairwoman of the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, told the press conference that the Executive Yuan might think it does not have adequate funding to subsidize the electricity costs for the development of solar power.
Hsu said the government’s NT$3.2 billion (US$99.6 million) budget for celebrating the Republic of China’s 100th anniversary next year could be used to subsidize 300 million watts of electro-optical power, which is 37.5 times more than was spent on it last year. She said the government currently provides subsidies of NT$11 per watt of electricity used in the development of each watt of electro-optical power.
The Executive Yuan responded with a press release affirming its stance of pushing for the establishment of solar power devices to help reduce carbon emissions.
To avoid causing financial burdens, however, the government will adjust purchasing prices for energy each year by taking into consideration factors such as cost of establishment, maintenance of the devices and the amount of energy produced, the Executive Yuan said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY FLORA WANG
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