President Ma Ying-jeou says it is a mistake to believe that renewable energy sources could be an effective substitute for nuclear power.
Ma was speaking Friday during a meeting with Chi Po-lin, director of environmental documentary “Taiwan from Above”.
Ma said that some believe that Taiwan’s energy needs will be met if the amount of energy derived from renewable sources reaches the level derived from nuclear power. He called this view mistaken. Ma cited Taiwan’s limited access to sunlight as one example of a limitation that will keep the country reliant on nuclear energy or fossil fuels.
Ma, who is finishing up his final months in office, said that he has not seen any of the candidates offer a solution to Taiwan’s energy problem. But he said that it is a problem Taiwan will have to face.
Ma also spoke about the need for Taiwan to face the issue of climate change. He said that the impact of rising sea levels will be especially strong in Taiwan because it is an island. But he said that if nuclear power is scrapped, Taiwanese people will be faced with both a power shortage and the question of where to live.