TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Environmental groups presented 10 demands Monday (Oct. 27) to Taiwan's Executive Yuan (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, seeking immediate restrictions on solar panel installations on water bodies. Organizations demanded legislative changes following reports of panel damage in lakes after Typhoon Danas. The groups include Forest City Association (森林城市協會), Changhua County Environmental Protection Union (彰化縣環境保護聯盟), and Matoushan Natural and Cultural Association (高雄市馬頭山自然人文協會).
The groups demand prohibition of photovoltaic installations in primary environmentally sensitive areas and environmental assessments in secondary sensitive zones. They seek bans on installations in national parks and scenic areas. The organizations emphasize environmental evaluations for photovoltaic projects on water surfaces and advocate for expanding assessments in coastal regions.
Chuang Chieh-jen (莊傑任), chairman of the Forest City Association, highlighted debris issues in reservoirs with floating photovoltaic installations after typhoons. He insisted on banning photovoltaic projects in reservoir catchment areas to prevent environmental degradation. The groups urge the Executive Yuan and Legislative Yuan (立法院), Taiwan's parliament, to establish regulations by year-end, focusing green energy development on rooftop systems.
The groups called for swift legislative action in a joint statement. Lin Kuo-liang (林國良), a counselor from the Executive Yuan's Office of Energy and Carbon Reduction (能源及減碳辦公室), accepted the statement. He assured it would be forwarded to relevant authorities for careful evaluation and response within 14 days. ◼