The government yesterday unveiled its plan to promote green energy, with all government vehicles in Taipei switching to E3 ethanol gasoline by September and biofuel expected to be available at all gas stations nationwide by 2011.
"The international community has been under pressure to curb carbon-dioxide emissions since the Kyoto Protocol took effect on Feb. 16, 2005," Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Chen (陳瑞隆) said.
"Although Taiwan is not a member of the UN and not bound by the Kyoto Protocol, we -- as a member of the global community -- cannot afford to isolate ourselves."
The minister made the remarks while addressing a monthly meeting attended by the president and other top government officials at the Presidential Office.
In addition to promoting energy-saving measures and upgrading energy efficiency, Chen said the government would aggressively push the use of renewable energy.
The government has set a goal of boosting deployment of power generated by clean energy to 10 percent of the total by 2010.
Aside from promoting power generated by solar, wind, water, geothermal and biomaterials, Chen said the government hoped to develop hydrogen energy and fuel cell technology.
A total of 428 city buses in Kaohsiung City have been using biodiesel since Jan. 27, Chen said, adding that Chiayi County's public buses were set to join the "green bus" project in the second half of the year.
Starting next month, B1 diesel will be available at gas stations in Taoyuan and Chiayi cities and counties, Chen said.
B1 diesel is a blend of 99 percent ordinary diesel and 1 percent biodiesel.
The government plans to have B1 diesel available at all gas stations nationwide by 2008 and B2 diesel by 2010, Chen said.
The state-owned CPC Corp, Taiwan, is expected to provide E3 ethanol gasoline in select gas stations in Taipei City in line with the ministry's plan to let all government vehicles in Taipei use E3 biofuel on a trial basis.
E3 ethanol gasoline is expected to be available at filling stations across the country by 2011.
E3 ethanol gasoline is composed of 97 percent gasoline and 3 percent ethanol.
The government will offer incentives to encourage motorists to switch to ethanol gasoline, Chen said.
Chen estimated that the global output of the green industry will reach US$665 billion by 2015, with Taiwan accounting for US$20 billion.
Taiwan is a niche supplier in the photoelectricity industry, with total output estimated to grow from NT$21.2 billion (US$642 million) last year to NT$60.8 billion in 2010, Chen said.
The nation also leads in the light emitting diode (LED) industry, ranking first in terms of worldwide volume and second in terms of value, Chen said.
Taiwan's annual production value of solar heating system has reached NT$1.2 billion, with a total of 36 manufacturing firms and 257 installation companies, Chen said.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
ALIGNED THINKING: Taiwan and Japan have a mutual interest in trade, culture and engineering, and can work together for stability, Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan and Japan are two like-minded countries willing to work together to form a “safety barrier” in the Indo-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium in Taipei. Taiwan and Japan are close geographically and closer emotionally, he added. Citing the overflowing of a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in September, Cho said the submersible water level sensors given by Japan during the disaster helped Taiwan monitor the lake’s water levels more accurately. Japan also provided a lot of vaccines early in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
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