The Incheon City Council has begun revising its ordinances in line with the law mandating the installation of solar power facilities in parking lots, which will take effect at the end of next month.
The Industrial Economy Committee of the City Council announced on the 1st that it held the "Discussion on Expanding Solar Power in Incheon and the Ordinance on Mandatory Installation of Solar Panels in Parking Lots" on the 30th, together with the Incheon Citizens Power Cooperative Network and the Incheon Federation for Environmental Movements. The discussion was organized to develop local-level responses to the "Act on the Promotion of Development, Use, and Distribution of New and Renewable Energy," which was amended in May.
The revised law newly stipulates that "those who install and operate public parking lots above a certain size are required to install new and renewable energy facilities." As a result, local governments nationwide will need to revise their design and installation standards for public parking lots going forward.
Participants are taking a commemorative photo at the "Mandatory Installation of Solar Panels in Parking Lots Ordinance Discussion" held on the 30th in the Industrial Economy Committee meeting room of Incheon City Council. Incheon City Council
At the discussion, Kim Hyunjung, Secretary General of the Gyeonggi Federation for Environmental Movements, gave a presentation on the progress of the ongoing solar panel ordinance for parking lots in Gyeonggi Province. The panelists agreed that the top priority should be enacting an ordinance tailored to Incheon's environment, and emphasized the need to establish communication and cooperation systems through public-private governance, as well as promote policies to increase public acceptance among residents.
Kim Yonghee, a member of the Incheon City Council, stated, "The installation of solar power facilities in parking lots should not end with the enactment of an ordinance; it should be the starting point for building a renewable energy ecosystem together with citizens. The public sector, including Incheon City Hall and Incheon International Airport, should take the lead in expanding the scope."
Moon Sejong, another member of the Incheon City Council, added, "Last year, we considered enacting a related ordinance, but it was put on hold due to the lack of a legal basis. Now that the Lee Jaemyung administration has designated the creation of RE100 industrial complexes and the expansion of renewable energy as major national policy tasks, Incheon City must also proactively prepare, such as by clarifying the department responsible for these projects."
Kim Youngjoo, Director of the Energy Industry Division of Incheon City, said, "We will carefully review all aspects, such as provisions according to the number of parking spaces, and communicate with civil society and the council to ensure the successful implementation of solar power facilities in public parking lots."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
