Images of Taichung coal-fired power plant, May 2009

The world's number one carbon dioxide emitting power plant, whose warm water effluent pours into critically endangered humpback dolphin habitat, 10.5.09.

Blocking out the sun (the original source of the energy stored in the coal) in order to bring light to the cities, 10.5.09.

Proponents of more coal-fired power plants along the west coast of Taiwan argue that, since the humpback dolphins still swim in this water, they will not be affected if more power plant effluent is pumped into their habitat. However, the dolphins are resident in these waters (within 3-5 km from shore) and, worldwide, humpback dolphins are known to restrict their movements to shallow coastal waters - this small population has no where else to go. Photo taken 10.5.09.

The power plant and Taichung Port, source: Google Earth 19.5.09

Location of Taichung coal-fired power plant relative to ETS humpback dolphin habitat