Taipower: Proposed Amendment to Air Pollution Control Act Targeting Generators Could Impact Stable Power Supply
Taipower stated today that reports indicate some legislators plan to amend the "Air Pollution Control Act" by targeting power generators. According to the proposed amendments, if local governments delay reviews or restrict the use of specific fuels in the future, power generators could be forced to shut down, posing a serious threat to Taiwan's stable power supply. Taipower urges the Parliament to carefully evaluate the impact of the relevant provisions on national power stability to ensure public livelihood, economic development, and national security.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 19:19
- 🔍 Collected: May 3, 2026 at 19:31 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 3, 2026 at 20:35 (1h 3m after Collected)
Taipei, May 3 (CNA) — Taipower stated today that reports indicate some legislators plan to amend the “Air Pollution Control Act” by targeting power generators. According to the proposed amendments, if local governments delay reviews or restrict the use of specific fuels in the future, power generators could be forced to shut down, posing a serious threat to Taiwan's stable power supply. Taipower urges the Parliament to carefully evaluate the impact of the relevant provisions on national power stability to ensure public livelihood, economic development, and national security.
Taipower issued a press release pointing out that, under the current proposed amendments, if local governments delay reviews when power generator permits are being renewed, the generators will not be protected by the legal buffer of “operating under the original permit” during the period when the permit has not yet been approved for renewal, forcing the units to shut down.
Taipower stated that some provisions expand the regulatory power of local governments, authorizing them to demand stricter emission standards, reduced fuel consumption, or even “prohibit the use of specific fuels” for power generation. This indicates that administrative actions by a single local government could restrict critical power plants affecting the entire nation's electricity supply, with impacts extending beyond a single county or city, posing a huge threat to residential electricity use and industrial development.
Taipower emphasized that although electricity demand is growing annually, power generation air pollutant emissions continue to decline, with the impact of power plant emissions on PM2.5 air quality dropping to 2.3%, a historic low. Some ill-intentioned rhetoric should not mislead the public by portraying power plant emissions as the sole cause of air quality issues, and rushing to amend the law would not only fail to improve air quality but also jeopardize national development and security, which is certainly not in the public's best interest.
Taipower stated its long-term commitment to improving air pollution through various measures such as environmental dispatch, equipment performance enhancement, and replacing coal with gas. In the past 10 years, air pollutant emissions from coal-fired power plants have significantly decreased by 77%. For the Taichung Power Plant, Taipower has invested NT$44.1 billion to upgrade air pollution control equipment, achieving an 80% reduction in air pollutant emissions. At the Hsinta Power Plant, all coal-fired units have been converted to backup status, and NT$12.5 billion has been invested to renovate existing gas-fired units, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by over 50% and achieving an overall air pollutant reduction of 92%.
Taipower reiterated that even under existing laws, it has consistently strived to reduce air pollutant emissions with the strictest attitude, and the results are clear for all to see. Facing this amendment, Taipower emphasized that stable power supply is the foundation of industrial economy and national security, and it is Taipower's primary responsibility. Taipower respects the Parliament's legislative authority and humbly accepts all suggestions, but still earnestly requests the Parliament to carefully consider the potential impact on stable electricity supply when reviewing this case. (Edited by Lin Ke-lun)1150503
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you give supports press freedom.
Download CNA's "Firsthand News" APP to get the latest news instantly.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
Taipower issued a press release pointing out that, under the current proposed amendments, if local governments delay reviews when power generator permits are being renewed, the generators will not be protected by the legal buffer of “operating under the original permit” during the period when the permit has not yet been approved for renewal, forcing the units to shut down.
Taipower stated that some provisions expand the regulatory power of local governments, authorizing them to demand stricter emission standards, reduced fuel consumption, or even “prohibit the use of specific fuels” for power generation. This indicates that administrative actions by a single local government could restrict critical power plants affecting the entire nation's electricity supply, with impacts extending beyond a single county or city, posing a huge threat to residential electricity use and industrial development.
Taipower emphasized that although electricity demand is growing annually, power generation air pollutant emissions continue to decline, with the impact of power plant emissions on PM2.5 air quality dropping to 2.3%, a historic low. Some ill-intentioned rhetoric should not mislead the public by portraying power plant emissions as the sole cause of air quality issues, and rushing to amend the law would not only fail to improve air quality but also jeopardize national development and security, which is certainly not in the public's best interest.
Taipower stated its long-term commitment to improving air pollution through various measures such as environmental dispatch, equipment performance enhancement, and replacing coal with gas. In the past 10 years, air pollutant emissions from coal-fired power plants have significantly decreased by 77%. For the Taichung Power Plant, Taipower has invested NT$44.1 billion to upgrade air pollution control equipment, achieving an 80% reduction in air pollutant emissions. At the Hsinta Power Plant, all coal-fired units have been converted to backup status, and NT$12.5 billion has been invested to renovate existing gas-fired units, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by over 50% and achieving an overall air pollutant reduction of 92%.
Taipower reiterated that even under existing laws, it has consistently strived to reduce air pollutant emissions with the strictest attitude, and the results are clear for all to see. Facing this amendment, Taipower emphasized that stable power supply is the foundation of industrial economy and national security, and it is Taipower's primary responsibility. Taipower respects the Parliament's legislative authority and humbly accepts all suggestions, but still earnestly requests the Parliament to carefully consider the potential impact on stable electricity supply when reviewing this case. (Edited by Lin Ke-lun)1150503
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you give supports press freedom.
Download CNA's "Firsthand News" APP to get the latest news instantly.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.