TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s legislature passed amendments on Nov. 14 that tighten regulations on solar installations, raising concerns that green energy goals and high-tech industry targets could clash with environmental safeguards, according to Business Today.

The bill cleared its third reading with support from the KMT and TPP, which together hold a small legislative majority. The changes have drawn mixed reactions.

TPP Legislator Chen Chao-tzu (陳昭姿) said that while developing green energy is a shared goal, past efforts lacked a comprehensive review. Past efforts lacked adequate risk management and safeguards, prompting the elevation of standards into primary law, according to Reccessary.

DPP Legislator Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) said misinformation and exaggeration had caused public misunderstanding of renewable energy. Investigations into individual cases should continue, but they should not block overall green energy development, Chen noted.

The Ministry of Environment had expanded environmental review requirements earlier this year to include national parks, wildlife conservation areas, designated agricultural zones, and key wetlands. Chen warned that embedding detailed requirements directly in the law could limit flexibility and slow the country’s renewable energy transition.

Industry groups expressed strong concern. Seven major solar associations issued a joint statement urging an open review process with public hearings, allowing input from environmental groups, academics, local governments, and the industry.

They said the amendments could affect land use, ecosystems, and the supply of green energy critical for high-tech industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. The associations warned stricter rules might slow renewable energy deployment, raising operational risks for companies and complicating long-term investment plans.

Chen also highlighted that Taiwanese companies, including TSMC, UMC, and major telecom operators, have pledged to join the RE100 initiative, aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2050. She cautioned that the new amendments could hinder these commitments.

Environmental groups argued that solar energy can either exploit land or help revitalize rural communities, depending on regulatory design. They said the recent amendments, which expand restricted zones, could limit opportunities for tribal, agricultural, and fishing villages to transition to green energy.

The groups proposed several reforms. They urged avoiding blanket bans in geologically sensitive areas, national scenic spots, and national parks, where land use and conditions vary widely, suggesting delaying the amendments to clarify which zones truly require restrictions.

They also recommended differentiating between large-scale commercial solar projects and small-scale, self-use installations. For large projects, a 20–30-hectare (0.2-0.3 square kilometer) threshold for mandatory environmental review was suggested, referencing Japan’s 40-hectare standard.

They proposed a 2-hectare minimum for requiring environmental review, noting that small, self-use projects generally have limited environmental impact. Indoor solar installations, including indoor aquaculture-solar projects, should also be subject to review.

Finally, they recommended assessing whether a site would have a clear negative environmental impact before mandating environmental review.