Taipei Mayer Questioned on Shenao Power Plant Expansion|深澳電廠燃煤擴建？ 柯P要台電先說清楚

During a reporting session at the City Council, Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je gave a series of reports on key issues including environmental protection and transportation. When asked about passing of environmental assessment of the latest Shenao Power Plant, Ko criticized Taiwan Power Company for not making clear of its energy policies. In the meantime, his change in position has also drawn suspicion from city counselors that it has something to do with the year end election.

The Shenao power plant expansion project recently cleared the environmental assessment. During a reporting session at the City Council, Taipei City Mayor Ko Wen-je was asked to clarify his stance on the latest development. In his recent report, Ko demanded in writing that Taiwan Power Company provide complete statistics and an alternative plan. However, Ko later on verbally gave a report in which he omitted the replacement plan. His change in position has draw suspicion from city counselors.

You are actually worrying about whether the ruling Democratic Progressive Party will give way to you (in the upcoming mayoral election). You are afraid that if you disagree with them on issues like this one that they will no longer give way to you. The necessity for an alternative plan is no longer present in your report today. We need professional solutions on professional issues, and Taipower needs to clarify their energy policy, and whether increased air pollution is an inevitable result ( due to the expansion of the Su'ao power plant).

The report from Taipei City Council states that the expansion of Shenao power plant will have negative environmental effect and negate the effort that the city government has put in to improve air quality. There has also been rumors that the ruling DPP is unhappy about Ko Wen-je voicing his support for Kuan Chong-ming, the president of National Taiwan University who was denied the right of taking office by the education ministry. Ko's relationship with the DPP was a central topic at the City Council.

Things are still going as they should, and we are giving priorities to matters relating to the city. (I hope you, as the mayor, are not worrying about outside influences.) I would still worry, I worry a lot. But things will still proceed as they should.

The city counselors question whether Ko Wen-je has sacrificed the health of Taipei City's residents in favor of gaining support from the ruling DPP.