Fishers question cost of renewable energy goals
Fishers question cost of renewable energy goals
SOLAR AND WIND: A Yunlin fisherman said that new wind farms have made getting out to traditional trawling grounds much harder and catches have fallen
By Ann Wang and Annabelle Chih / Reuters, Yunlin County
Taiwan has set an ambitious goal to develop green, renewable energy as it seeks to play its part in tackling climate change, and the banks of wind farms visible in the haze off its blustery western coast are a major part of those plans.
However, for some fishers who have trawled in the waters of the Taiwan Strait for generations, wind power and other renewables are coming with a sting in the tail — disrupted fishing, pollution and complaints about a lack of communication from the government.
For Lee Ping-shun, 52, who has been fishing off Yunlin County for the past two decades, new wind farms have made getting out to traditional trawling grounds much harder and catches have declined.
A woman digs for clams near wind turbines in Changhua County on May 9.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
“Yunlin needs green energy, because our life quality is affected by air pollution. If you can get energy from sun, from wind, why wouldn’t we want that? For us, green energy is great, but I don’t know why it has turned out to be like this,” Lee said at his office by the coast.
Natural resource-poor Taiwan, which has traditionally relied on coal to generate electricity, has a goal of generating at least 60 percent of power from renewable sources by 2050.
Koo Xian-shuen (顧賢鉉), chairman of Yunmeng Wind Power, told reporters in March while unveiling the latest offshore Yunlin wind project that communication with local communities could have been better and that was a lesson learned.
“So from now on, we will continue to communicate with them about the problems they face, and help them to resolve it, not run away from it,” Koo said.
The Energy Administration told reporters that communication was an important part of the development of offshore wind projects and the government has a mechanism for things such as compensation for lost fishery income.
This is to “enable the harmonious development of wind power and at the same time take into account the well-being of residents,” the agency said.
However, Lee is not alone.
In Changhua County, some fish farmers say that wind turbines onshore have interfered with their business.
Clam farmer Hung Chin-tun, 43, said that oil has leaked into his ponds from a wind turbine abutting his land.
“I feel helpless, all my efforts this year are on this farm,” Hung said.