TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) on Tuesday said the city government had asked the central government to cancel the controversial Heshan solar project in Dashu District, citing environmental damage and regulatory violations.
Chen said the city on Monday requested the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Energy Administration to revoke the project’s work and fundraising permits, per CNA. He also called on the Ministry of the Interior’s National Land Management Agency to reclassify the land to restrict industrial use.
The Kaohsiung Economic Development Department said the solar plant sits in a prohibited development zone and has caused significant soil erosion. Officials added that the priority now is for the developer, Smart Family, to restore the landscape and reinforce flood control infrastructure.
The city said it conducted 15 inspections for soil and water conservation compliance and issued seven fines totaling NT$1 million (US$33,900). The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office has opened an investigation.
Chen reiterated on Saturday that his administration has banned new ground-mounted solar projects for the past two years and that the Heshan project was the only one that proceeded during this time, per UDN.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that the project’s soil and water conservation permit had been revoked, nullifying its construction authorization, per Fount Media. The ministry also fined the project NT$1.5 million for unauthorized construction and said the power permit would be voided as well.
The project drew increased attention after KMT Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩) visited the site on June 16, per UDN. Heshan Village Chief Wu Shun-chih (吳順治) warned that a flood retention basin was clogged with mud and rocks following recent heavy rains, raising fears about its ability to function during the upcoming typhoon season.
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chu Hsin-chiang (朱信強) criticized the project for clearing hillsides to install solar panels without adequate erosion control. DPP Councilor Huang Fei-feng (黃飛鳳) said the city failed to act despite repeated warnings and multiple fines, per UDN.
The 51-hectare project was expected to generate 70 megawatts of electricity, but the site includes steep slopes with gradients up to 53%, which required significant land alteration and damaged the natural terrain.
Critics say Taiwan’s early renewable energy policies contributed to the problem, per News&Market. Under current rules, Taiwan Water Corporation awards solar contracts to the highest bidder, with no requirement to consider environmental impact. Early solar projects were also exempt from environmental impact assessments.
The green energy initiative launched under former Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) aimed to develop 6.5 gigawatts of renewable energy between 2019 and 2020, pushing agencies like Taiwan Water Corporation to fast-track projects.
In May, Shan Hsin-yu (單信瑜), associate professor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University’s Department of Civil Engineering, said that although the project passed a Soil and Water Conservation Plan review, it should have avoided drastic landscape changes. He warned that exposed soil and vegetation loss pose major erosion risks.
Conservation advocate Chen Chi-jung (陳祺忠) noted that mandatory environmental impact assessments for slope-based solar projects were only introduced in July 2024, well after many projects were already underway. He called for greater accountability from policymakers and regulators for the consequences of early-stage green energy development.
