On the morning of August 10, President Ma Ying-jeou visited a Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) wind farm in Zhongtun Village of the offshore Penghu County. The president examined the state of wind generation there, and also listened to a briefing on the current status of wind generation in Taiwan and a progress report on the Penghu Low Carbon
Island Project.
A short while later, President Ma and representatives from the local community then engaged in a meeting on related topics. Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Minister Woody Tyzz-Jiun Duh (杜紫軍) and Taipower President Wen-Chen Chu (朱文成) also were on hand to assist in responding to various questions and explaining a number of issues.
In remarks, the president pointed out that Taiwan relies for 98% of its energy needs on imports, the vast majority of which come from nations with which the ROC does not maintain formal diplomatic ties. Energy issues are thus a matter of national security, he said, adding that ensuring a stable supply of energy and developing energy independence are extremely important. President Ma commented that he has visited wind power facilities in Changhua County, Kaohsiung City, and Pingtung County, but Penghu has the most abundant wind energy resources in Taiwan, which is why he wanted to make a special visit to the county.
President Ma stated that after he took office in 2008 the government achieved passage of the Renewable Energy Development Act to promote renewable energies. The government is also actively promoting a variety of renewable energy policies, he said, including the installation of rooftop solar energy panels sufficient to provide power to one million homes, and the construction of 1,000 land- and sea-based wind turbines. Renewable energies generate low carbon emissions and feature low costs, he noted. However, there are limitations associated with solar power and wind power, he stated. For instance, the generation of wind power in Taiwan is more difficult during the less windy summer months, whereas the summer time is precisely the peak period for power use. Even so, he said, the government is still making the development of renewable energies an important goal of national development.
The president stated that after Japan's nuclear incident in Fukushima in March 2011, the ROC government announced that the vision for Taiwan's energy development requires that we "ensure nuclear safety, gradually reduce reliance on nuclear power, and create a green power and low-carbon environment to gradually become a nuclear-free country." The president stated that Article 23 of the Basic Environment Act calls for the government to formulate projects that will gradually enable Taiwan to achieve its goal of becoming a nuclear-free homeland. During this transition period, the government has to find alternative energy sources to avoid power shortages, he said. In addition, the president noted that the government is actively seeking to reduce carbon emissions 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."
President Ma emphasized that although the government is making every effort to promote the development of renewable energy, the task of finding sufficient alternative energy sources poses big challenges. In particular, he said, each energy source has its own characteristics, meaning that the government needs to find the best energy mix in order to avoid over-reliance on any particular source, which would affect the nation's economic development. The president stated that the government will continue striving to develop wind power and solar power, but will also work to introduce other energy sources to ensure ample power.
With respect to a project by Taipower to lay an underwater cable from Yunlin to Penghu, and the subsequent protests by environmental protection groups and local residents, the president commented, Penghu is a good place to develop wind power, but if an underwater cable is not laid between Penghu and Taiwan proper, Penghu loses its importance to the power grid. President Ma also instructed Taipower and the Ministry of Economic Affairs to engage in communication and coordination with county and city governments and to provide them with persuasive scientific evidence in order to alleviate the concerns of the public that such a cable would have negative consequences on their health.
President Ma also mentioned that the government in 2011 approved the Penghu Low Carbon Island Project in a concerted effort to promote solar energy, the installation of solar water heaters and LED street lights, the use of energy-efficient home appliances, installation of intelligent electric meters, provision of subsidies for the use of electric motorcycles, and promotion of biodiesel fuel. The president said that while Penghu's environment is conducive to the development of wind power, it still faces a number of obstacles. The government, he commented, will work to maximize the development of renewable energies there and help eliminate barriers. President Ma also expressed hope that the central and local governments will work together to promote local prosperity and development.