President Ma Ying-jeou met on the afternoon of June 25 with Donald R. Lessard, Epoch Foundation Professor of International Management at the Sloan School of Management of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The two exchanged opinions on a broad range of issues related to energy policy, renewable energy research, and energy efficiency.
In remarks, the president noted that after the nuclear disaster two years ago at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in Japan, countries throughout the world examined the safety of their nuclear power facilities as well as their energy policies. Taiwan's government, he said, two years ago announced that it would, under the three principles of "no power rationing, maintaining reasonable power prices, and making good on our pledges to the international community to reduce carbon emissions," promote an energy policy of "ensuring nuclear safety, gradually reducing reliance on nuclear power, creating a green power and low-carbon environment to gradually become a nuclear-free country." President Ma acknowledged that Taiwan is at a crossroads in its energy policy, and stated that his meeting with Professor Lessard offers an opportunity to ask him for his suggestions and opinions.
The president stated that the Basic Environment Act of December 11, 2002 clearly sets forth the objective of making Taiwan nuclear-free. He said that after he took office in 2008, his administration adopted legislation to promote the development of renewable energy, the installed capacity of which has grown by a factor of 23 since that time. Despite these strides, however, renewable energy (including hydropower) only constitutes about 3.7% of Taiwan's generated power. The president commented that if hydropower is excluded, leaving only solar and wind power, renewable energy as a portion of Taiwan's total power generated is less than 1%.
President Ma opined that even though there has been considerable growth in the installed capacity of renewable energy in Taiwan, the natural environment here limits our ability to make use of it, so it is important that the government find the most appropriate energy mix. This is a major issue currently being addressed. Regarding the decision on whether to continue or halt construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, the president added that the government has asked the legislature to put the matter to a referendum. He expressed hope that a decision will be reached on the matter by the end of this year.
The president stated that the United States leads the world with 104 nuclear reactor units. Furthermore, America last year approved the construction of two nuclear reactor units and extended the service life of nearly 60 others, he said. Also, US President Barack Obama recently appointed Professor Ernest Moniz, a supporter of nuclear energy, as Secretary of Energy. President Ma said he hopes to ask Professor Lessard his opinions on the significance of this appointment and the likely impact on nuclear energy policy in the United States. He also expressed hope for continued bilateral cooperation and interaction.
Professor Lessard was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Epoch Foundation President Paul Hsu (徐小波) and Vice President Josephine Chao (趙如媛) to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting were National Security Council Deputy Secretary-General John C. C. Deng (鄧振中) and Director General Jerry J. R. Ou (歐嘉瑞) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Energy.