A coalition of environmental groups yesterday rallied in front of the Executive Yuan, demanding that the government withdraw an electricity price cut, saying low electricity prices could lead to overdependence on fossil fuels and obstruct development of green energy sources.
The reduction, which was implemented yesterday, lowers electricity rates by 9.56 percent on average, with households expected to see their monthly bill drop by NT$80, while industrial users could see a NT$400,000 reduction.
The groups said that the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ formula for electricity price calculation does not reflect real costs because it does not include the external cost of air pollution caused by fossil fuel power generation.
Photo: Yang Chin-chieh, Taipei Times
The rate cut could also hamper the development of green energy sources and greenhouse gas reduction, they said.
Changhua County Environmental Protection Union secretary-general Shih Yueh-ying (施月英) said the external cost of coal-fired power generation is the highest among all types of power generation, but this was not taken into consideration when rates were adjusted.
The nation still relies on coal as its principal fuel.
“Taiwan’s low electricity prices have suppressed the development of renewable energy, which accounts for less than 2 percent of the total power generation. Higher but reasonable electricity rates are important to make the public and industry conserve energy and shift to green energy,” Shih said.
The rate reduction was meant to share state-run Taiwan Power Co’s revenue with the public, but environmentalists said there are better ways to use the money.
“Revenue can be used to replace old power generation facilities with more efficient and environmentally friendly models, such as natural gas-fired generators. Cleaner power generation, even if more expensive, can help increase life expectancies in central and southern Taiwan, so reducing air pollution rather than lowering electricity prices is the most important thing to do, ” National Chung Hsing University environmental engineering professor Tsuang Ben-jei (莊秉潔) said.
Severe air pollution caused by coal-fired power plants contributes to shorter life spans in central and southern Taiwan, with life expectancy averaging below 80 in Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, compared with more than 80 in Taipei, New Taipei City and Taoyuan, Tsuang said.
Taiwan Healthy Air Action Alliance convener Yeh Guang-peng (葉光芃) said coal burning generates a large amount of PM2.5 — fine particulate matter measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter — poisonous chemicals and trace heavy metals.
According to a poll by the Chinese-language Global Views Monthly conducted in February, 52 percent of people are willing to pay more taxes to fund air pollution reduction programs, and 74 percent are willing to accept higher power rates to increase green energy use, Yeh said, calling on the government to respond to the public’s demand for cleaner air and a healthier environment.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it