The Taichung City Government is criticizing the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) over its unilateral decision to allow a power plant to restart two units.
Last year, the city government revoked the Taichung Power Plant’s license for two of its power units. That move came after the city fined the coal-burning power plant three times for multiple violations, including its excessive emissions and use of coal.
The EPA announced on Tuesday that it had reinstated the power plant’s license in order to avoid a potential lawsuit from the state-owned Taiwan Power Company. Taipower runs the power plant and has been protesting the city government’s decision to revoke the licenses, saying it has inadequate proof of violations.
Taichung’s Legal Affairs Bureau commented on the development on Wednesday. The bureau said the EPA had not involved Taichung City in its decision making process, and that constitutes a violation of the Local Government Act. The bureau also criticized the EPA for being partial toward the power plant, saying it will call on the Cabinet to nullify the decision.