The ROC government’s initiative to transform Penghu into a low-carbon island is being carried out as planned, even though debate on the creation of a wind power company has still not come to an end, Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-shiang said Sept. 8.
As part of the initiative, the Penghu County Government plans to make local residents stakeholders in a wind power company that would take advantage of the strong winds that blow on Penghu nine months of the year.
The plan is now stalled at the county council, Shih noted.
Sources said some councilors prefer to have the company created under a build-operate-transfer model, which they believe could prevent political interference in management and would be more effective than the proposed joint-venture company.
Under the county government plan supported by the MOEA, residents will be allowed to acquire a 55 percent share in the company, with the rest open to private outside investors. Residents could also buy shares in the company at preferential rates, and would be allowed to exchange land for company stocks.
“Discussion of details on the company is ongoing, but we are expecting positive results,” the minister said.
Meanwhile, Taiwan Power Co. is planning to build an NT$16 billion (US$547 million), 70-kilometer underwater cable for transmitting electricity between Penghu and Taiwan proper.
According to Taipower’s buy-down program, the cable will transmit surplus electricity produced in Penghu to Taiwan, Shih said. He added that in summer when the winds wane in Penghu, the cable could be used to transfer electricity from Taiwan to Penghu.
The low-carbon initiative, which is centered on the installation of a total of 96 megawatt wind power generators, is aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 50 percent in 2015 from the 2005 level and supplying 56 percent of the island’s total electricity demand with renewable energy by the same year.
