The Kaohsiung City Government has asked the Bureau of Energy to cancel permits for a controversial solar panel project, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) said today.
This comes after the city’s Economic Development Bureau said in a news release that the Dashu District (大樹) solar photovoltaic project's developer had contravened soil and water conservation procedures and constructed in a non-developable zone, leading to sediment runoff and erosion.
The case was referred to prosecutors for investigation and the city has ordered that development be halted, the news release said.
Photo: Taipei Times
Kaohsiung’s position is clear, Chen said in an interview today.
In addition to canceling permits, the city is hoping that the National Land Management Agency revokes the zoning classification for the land allocated to the project, Chen said.
Kaohsiung must reassess the project with public safety and people’s livelihoods as the top priority, he said.
The developer should restore the pre-existing environment and landscape, the city government said, adding that it sent a letter to the Ministry of the Interior asking that the land be rezoned to its original classification to allow for its restoration.
Since the soil and water conservation plan was approved for the project, city supervisors have conducted 15 inspections of the project's conservation efforts, the city government said.
During those inspections, officials found seven contraventions and fined the company NT$1.08 million (US$36,538), it said, adding that it ordered a halt to construction last month.
The city government said it found that the developer had built in areas not zoned for construction and exceeded its approved development area by two hectares.
On June 6, the Energy Administration conducted an inspection and confirmed prior contraventions, which resulted in the city fining the developer NT$300,000 for contravening the Regional Plan Act (區域計畫法).
Kaohsiung’s agencies have reported the issues to the authorities and are seeking to undo the environmental damage, the city government said.
If the developer applies for another power generation license before the improvements are completed, the city would not provide supporting documents, it said.
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
SECURITY: Starlink owner Elon Musk has taken pro-Beijing positions, and allowing pro-China companies to control Taiwan’s critical infrastructure is risky, a legislator said Starlink was reluctant to offer services in Taiwan because of the nation’s extremely high penetration rates in 4G and 5G services, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said yesterday. The ministry made the comments at a meeting of the legislature’s Transportation Committee, which reviewed amendments to Article 36 of the Telecommunications Management Act (電信管理法). Article 36 bans foreigners from holding more than 49 percent of shares in public telecommunications networks, while shares foreigners directly and indirectly hold are also capped at 60 percent of the total, unless specified otherwise by law. The amendments, sponsored by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Ko
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS