Connection between Wind Power and Politics

Reflecting severe competition in the wind power business, an inappropriate relationship between a businessman and a lawmaker was revealed. The Special Investigation Department of Tokyo Prosecutors Office on Thursday arrested a member of House of Representatives Masatoshi Akimoto with suspect of receiving bribery from the president of a wind power company. In the past discussions in the House, Akimoto required the government to loosen the regulation to make it preferrable to the company. The corruption may harm the image of Fumio Kishida administration, which is already suffering from decline of supporting rate. 

After the news report in August that he might have accepted corrupt money from a company, Japan Wind Development, Akimoto stepped down as a Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and leaved Liberal Democratic Party. With further investigation, the prosecutors convinced that Akimoto received ¥60 million amount of money from the president of JWD, Masayuki Tsukawaki, as the reward of making questions to support Tsukamoto’s business.

 

JWD was hoping to win the ticket for developing an offshore wind power generation project in the Mutsu Bay, Aomori. In the discussion of the Committee of Budget in February 2019, Akimoto asked Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry not to introduce an excessive regulation as the reason for avoiding influence to the facility of Ministry of Defense nearby. Akimoto borrowed next month ¥30 million from Tsukawaki for the registration to Japan Racing Association as a horse owner.

 

In Ferbruary 2021, Akimoto required the change of rule for company selection, which would be preferable to Tsukawaki in the Diet discussion. Renewable Energy Water Area Utilization Act 2018 allows a selected company exclusively developing designated area for thirty years. The Companies related to Mitsubishi, a major rival for JWD, were leading in achieving those privileges. Akimoto received another ¥30 million through his private union for horse owners, nominally established with Tsukamoto.

 

This is another money scandal in Kishida Administration. Minister for Internal Affairs, Minoru Terada, stepped down with mismanagement of his political funds last November. Minister for Reconstruction, Ken-ya Akiba, resigned with a doubt over the rental fee of his office. “We have to straighten our political activities up,” said Kishida on the issue. But, it is usual that some scandals are revealed soon after establishing new cabinet. Kishida has to be extremely careful in the cabinet reshuffling later this month.

 

Arrest of Akimoto indicated the hard competition over wind power generation business. After introduction of the target of carbon neutral by 2050 three years ago, the development of renewable energy has been accelerated. Those efforts sometimes have negative impact on local community. The central government may have to take a close look at each project, including the relationship between business and politics.

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