TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's path toward carbon neutrality took a significant step forward as legislators in the Legislative Yuan (立法院) Economic Committee convened Monday (March 24) to review critical amendments to the "Electricity Act" (電業法). The proposed revisions, championed by the Executive Yuan (行政院), seek to dismantle barriers to renewable energy trading while preserving the unified structure of the Taiwan Power Company (TPC, 台電) — a notable reversal of the utility's previously scheduled breakup. These changes represent a strategic recalibration of Taiwan's energy policy as the island nation accelerates its pursuit of net-zero emissions in an increasingly carbon-conscious global economy.
The cabinet greenlit these draft amendments in January, introducing provisions that would permit renewable energy producers to sell excess electricity through newly established trading mechanisms. Under the proposal, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA, 經濟部) would create an independent trading platform expected to benefit 81 Taiwanese companies currently involved in renewable energy production. This marks a significant policy shift from the government's previous timeline, which had scheduled Taiwan Power Company's division into separate generation and distribution entities by late 2025. Officials cited both the ambitious national goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and concerns about Taiwan Power Company's financial viability as key factors behind abandoning the planned restructuring.
Opposition legislators have seized the opportunity to push for more aggressive climate action through their own proposed amendments. Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨) Legislators Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) and Cheng Cheng-chien (鄭正鈐) introduced measures designed to accelerate Taiwan's transition toward carbon neutrality. During committee deliberations, Lai sharply criticized what he characterized as the government's retreat from nuclear energy in favor of carbon-intensive power generation methods. He pointed to Taiwan's declining position in international greenhouse gas emission rankings as evidence of policy failure and advocated for a system of financial penalties targeting electricity providers who exceed carbon emission thresholds.
Fellow KMT legislator Cheng echoed these concerns, emphasizing that Taiwan risks falling behind in the worldwide movement toward carbon neutrality. He directed particular criticism at the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨), claiming its policies have actually increased reliance on carbon-intensive electricity generation methods, potentially compromising both environmental goals and public health. The opposition's legislative proposals would establish a regulatory framework imposing financial sanctions on both Taiwan Power Company and independent electricity producers that fail to meet specified carbon emission standards — a measure designed to create market incentives for cleaner energy production.
