TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Following residents’ complaints, the Pingtung County Government on Monday investigated agricultural land cleared and prepared for wind turbine installation without authorization.

Inspectors from multiple departments found that three parcels had been leveled and seven fixed foundations installed — six inclined steel tension foundations and one square foundation — per UDN.

Installing fixed foundations on agricultural land without approval violates regional planning laws, leading to a NT$300,000 (US$9,700) fine for wind power developer Pingsheng Energy. The county government said the company had not filed any applications for testing or construction.

The planned development in Fangshan Township has sparked protests from residents concerned about ecological and health impacts. Onshore wind turbines can cause low-frequency noise and glare. Such concerns even led Minister of Environment Peng Chi-ming (彭啓明) to state his opposition to onshore wind development.

Pingsheng’s project covers 119 parcels of land, including general agricultural land as well as areas designated for transportation and water use. The government may order landowners to cease use, demolish structures, and restore the land within a set timeframe.

The county government said it had already raised objections to the project during the Ministry of Environment’s preliminary review in March. The review task force requested the developer to submit supplemental documents addressing 13 issues, including turbine noise, vibration, and glare, by June 30. However, the developer has yet to respond.

The county government added it stopped accepting permits for renewable energy facilities on agricultural and pastoral land exceeding 660 square meters on Aug. 1, 2020. It said the construction lacked approval and rejected claims the work was merely for wind measurement studies.