TSMC plans to expand a new plant in Taichung's Central Taiwan Science Park, but environmentalists worry that the power requirements of the new plant will mean very high levels of carbon emissions which can create health problems for the city's residents.
“TSMC, zero nuclear power in 2030!”The environmental protection group held a banner with slogan and asked TSMC to make an energy evaluation plan as its planning a new plant in the Central Taiwan Science Park. The plant is still going through the environmental impact assessment review, environmentalists are worried that TSMC's water and electricity consumption will increase greatly after the expansion is completed, which will also significantly increase carbon emissions.
Yang Kuo-chen, Former Chairperson, Taiwan Academy of Ecology: “These green energy we are working on now is definitely not enough because TSMC's needs are too big. ”
Yueh Hsiang-wen, Executive Director, Clean Air Taichung Alliance: “TSMC should be able to use 100 percent renewable energy, which should be self-produced and not bought from elsewhere. They should produce their own electricity. If they can't achieve this, I don't think Taiwanese people can afford to support such a big corporation in our country. ”
The environmental group pointed out that TSMC's electricity demand for the expansion is equal to the power generation of 1.8 medium-fire coal-fired units. It consumes more than 8.341 billion kWh of electricity every year. Thus, Taichung Power Plant will also have to burn a large amount of coal to generate extra electricity, which will affect the health of its citizens. The group stressed if TSMC wants to set up a new factory, it should reach the goal of 40 percent green energy in 2024 and 100 percent green energy in 2030. It should not pass on the cost of power generation to Taichung's citizens. Taichung Environmental Protection Bureau said it would ask TSMC for more information regarding its electricity demand.
Shang Wen-lin, Deputy Director, Taichung Environmental Protection Bureau: “We will require TSMC to cooperate with city government's policy of achieving 100 percent use of green energy. We also hope that other companies who will enter the science park in the future can show their determination of sustainable development. ”
Taichung Environmental Protection Bureau said that the current expansion project is still under the EIA review. TSMC will be required to assess its growing electricity needs and provide its plan for the use of renewable energy. The city is asking TSMC to achieve zero carbon emissions as soon as possible.
「台積30零核電！」環保團體拿著標語，要求即將在台中擴廠的台積電先做好能源的評估規劃，因為目前在中科六期的廠房雖然還在環評，但環團擔心完成後用水用電大增，還會因此大量增加碳排。
台灣生態學會前理事長楊國禎指出：「現在在處理的這些綠能的東西，那絕對不夠用的，因為你（台積電）的量體太大了。」
台中爭好氣聯盟執行長岳祥文表示：「他應該要能夠百分之百用再生能源，而且要自產，他不要到處去買電，他應該要自己的電自己來發，如果做不到，我覺得台灣人民養不起這樣的大企業。」
環團指出，台積電在中科擴建的電力需求，等於1.8部中火燃煤機組發電量，每年要消耗超過83.4億度電，到時候中火也必須大量燃煤發電，影響市民健康。而台積電如果要設廠，應該在2024年達到使用40％的綠能，2030年百分百使用綠電，不該將發電成本轉嫁給台中市民。市府環保局表示，會加強要求評估用電需求。
台中市環保局副局長商文麟說：「要求開發單位應配合市府的政策，提前達成園區百分之百使用綠色能源的目標，也希望未來進駐的廠商能展現企業永續發展的決心。」
環保局表示，目前擴建案還在環評審查，會要求開發單位評估用電成長需求，規劃再生能源和綠能供電系統，要求盡早達成零碳排的目標。