DNREC Releases Updated State Energy Plan

DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin speaks at an event announcing the release of the state’s updated energy plan./DNREC photo

Strategies Identified to Address Energy-Related Challenges While Continuing to Transition to Clean Energy Sources

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has released an updated energy plan to help guide the state as it works toward continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean energy sources.

“The 2024-2028 Delaware State Energy Plan maps out strategies we can deploy to meet the state’s energy and emissions reduction goals while maintaining a reliable and resilient grid and increasing energy justice in disadvantaged communities,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin.

The state energy plan was last updated in 2009.

In 2022, the state legislature expanded the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council to 25 members and tasked it with providing recommendations to the DNREC State Energy Office for updating the plan.

In 2023, the GEAC held 25 public meetings, five meetings of the full Council and each of four workgroups, and gathered public input at three public engagement sessions. The GEAC then met in January 2024 to review and approve 82 recommendations (which are summarized in the Council’s 2023 Activity Report), and held additional public outreach meetings in August.

“The new Delaware Energy Plan is the beneficiary of the input from a broad range of Delawareans who serve on the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council, and from members of the public who attended the Council’s meetings or public information sessions,” said GEAC Chair Ed Kee. “Real goals and strategies emerged that will be useful to Delawareans in the face of ever-changing, energy-related challenges over the next five years.”

The newly updated plan notes that Delaware is in the midst of a far-reaching energy transition, and the energy systems we rely on to power and heat our homes, meet our transportation needs and power commerce and industry are facing unique challenges, including reducing climate impacts, increasing the use of renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, addressing issues of energy justice, adapting the power grid to changes in generation and distribution of power and preparing our workforce to meet our changing energy needs.

The plan identifies five overarching action categories:

Energy Justice that addresses historical causes of energy inequality and the associated health, social and economic burdens.
Renewable Energy and Clean Technologies that centers on the carbon-free generation essential to achieving goals identified in the Climate Change Solutions Act.
Energy Efficiency and Beneficial Electrification in homes and businesses to enable achievement of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.
Grid Modernization to overcome new and emerging challenges to grid reliability and take advantage of new energy opportunities.
Workforce Development to ensure Delaware’s workforce is prepared to meet the demands of a clean energy future.

DNREC Secretary Garvin noted that the plan is best understood as a living document.

“Conditions will evolve, and new technologies will be developed,” he said. “So, while our energy and climate planning efforts require looking ahead as far as 2050, this iteration of the plan is designed to guide toward our goals for the next five years.”

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter) or LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, Michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

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DNREC Sets Information Meetings for Draft State Energy Plan

Visitors Invited to Browse Displays, Ask Questions

Delawareans will have an opportunity to learn about strategies incorporated into the latest State Energy Plan update at public information meetings planned this month in each county.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s State Energy Office has been working on an update to the energy plan for the past year, with public input integral to developing it, said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin.

“Feedback from the public who attended meetings or completed online surveys helped shape the strategies outlined in the Plan, shifting toward a more resilient and reliable electric grid and identifying actions Delaware can take to achieve state greenhouse gas reduction targets in order to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” he said.

Four workgroups within the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council (GEAC), which is charged with providing recommendations to the State Energy Office on the plan update, held a series of meetings from June through December last year to gather information on what they thought should be included in the plan.

Those workgroups included: Renewable Energy and Clean Technologies; Energy Efficiency and Electrification; Grid Modernization; and Environmental Justice and Energy Equity.

As part of their outreach efforts, the State Energy Office, in coordination with the GEAC, held public input and information sessions in each county last November. More than 150 residents attended those meetings. Others submitted their thoughts through an online survey.

The workgroups combined drafted more than 250 recommendations, 82 of which were sent to the full Council. All of those were approved by a majority vote.

Visitors can arrive at any time during the two-hour events, browse the displays and learn about the State Energy Plan update from DNREC State Energy Office staff.

The draft energy plan public information meetings will be held:

Tuesday, Aug.13, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Cheer Community Center, 20520 Sand Hill Road, Georgetown
Wednesday, Aug. 14, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center, 3022 New Castle Avenue, New Castle
Thursday, Aug. 15, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, Michael.globetti@delaware.gov or Jim Lee, JamesW.Lee@delaware.gov

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Governor’s Energy Advisory Council Sets Public Input Sessions to Highlight, Get Feedback on State Energy Plan

The public input sessions for the State Energy Plan will provide opportunities for interacting with DNREC State Energy Office staff and commenting on the plan. /DNREC photo

Delawareans will have the opportunity to learn about the State Energy Plan, offer input for it, and to become better informed about existing energy efficiency and renewable energy programs at a series of public input sessions planned in November by the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council (GEAC).

The GEAC is tasked with providing recommendations to the State Energy Office within the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control on the latest update to the Energy Plan. Since June, GEAC workgroups have been focused on learning about where Delaware currently stands, where the state needs to go, and how best to get there in working to reduce carbon emissions.

The GEAC public input sessions, one for each county, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on the dates and at locations below:

Wednesday, Nov. 1, Dover Public Library, 35 Loockerman Plaza, Dover;
Monday, Nov. 6, Route 9 Library & Innovation Center, 3022 New Castle Ave., New Castle;
Wednesday Nov. 15, Cheer Community Center, 20520 Sand Hill Road, Georgetown.

GEAC chairperson Ed Kee said the goal of the public input sessions is to obtain Delawareans’ input on a wide range of energy issues. Those issues, he said, are reflected by the council’s four work groups: Grid Modernization, Energy Efficiency & Electrification, Renewable Energy and Clean Technologies, and Environmental Justice and Energy Equity.

“The format for the meetings will not be the standard public comment process, but rather specific discussion and conversations on the work group topics,” Kee said. “These conversations will run concurrently in different groups.”

Anyone wanting to attend, Kee said, can drop in at any time during the two-hour meetings to browse the displays, talk to DNREC State Energy Office staff, and offer input on some of the proposals that are under consideration.

DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin said gathering input from communities is essential to the continuing development of the State Energy Plan. “As we work toward reducing the greenhouse gases that are driving climate change, the transition to clean energy sources, energy efficiency and grid stability will be key components to our success,” he said.

Ensuring equity in any proposals for the State Energy Plan is also essential, Secretary Garvin said, noting that DNREC’s Environmental Justice team will be at each of the three upcoming meetings to present the Department’s EJ mapping tool, and to show how it is helping to bring traditionally underserved or underrepresented Delaware communities to the table.

As GEAC chair, Kee said the council’s hope is for wide public participation in each of the meetings. “Any Delawarean interested in or concerned about the future of in our state’s energy systems is welcome to express their views and concerns,” he said. “No doubt it will be a learning experience for all.”

DNREC Supports 2023 Youth Environmental Summit for Delaware High School Students on March 2

The 4th annual YES! Summit will be held March 2, with DNREC again a lead sponsor of the event and staff on hand to interact with high school students about environmental issues and careers. Student registration is open through Feb. 24. Above, students show off reusable DNREC bags and swag from last year’s YES! Summit. DNREC photo.

On March 2, more than 450 Delaware high school students are expected to gather in Newark for the fourth annual Delaware Youth Environmental Summit (YES!) to learn more about today’s top environmental issues and challenges, and to network with their peers and guest speakers. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is a fourth-year sponsor of the event, which includes keynote speaker Secretary Shawn M. Garvin and presentations by DNREC staff.

The student-led conference will be held at the University of Delaware’s Clayton Hall Conference Center in Newark and is offered free of charge, with lunch included, for Delaware high school students and educators who are advisors to school teams. Preregistration is open now through Friday, Feb. 24 at DelawareYES.org. Attendance is limited.

“Many of today’s young people are stepping up to take leading roles as environmental advocates for the health and future of our planet as we gather together to take on the challenge of climate change,” said Secretary Garvin. “DNREC has proudly supported YES! since its inception in 2020. We encourage Delaware’s up-and-coming environmental stewards to attend this year’s YES! summit and learn more about today’s key environmental issues such as environmental justice, and to make their voices heard as they seek a seat at the table determining their future.”

Planned by students, YES! aims to inspire youth-led action and environmental leadership through keynote speakers, more than two dozen breakout workshops, and nonprofit and agency exhibitors. In addition to Secretary Garvin, guests and speakers include U.S. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt-Rochester, Governor John Carney, members of the General Assembly, and Nessy Cherazard, a 15-year-old environmental activist currently in her senior year at Sussex Technical High School. This year’s topics include green schools, electric school buses, food waste, climate change, wildlife and hunting conservation, clean water, STEM, sustainability, plastic pollution/zero waste, green careers and college majors, beekeeping, clean energy and advocacy.

“As a youth summit leader, I’m exceptionally proud of the summit we created this year for Delaware students by Delaware students,” said Nitya Patel, the summit’s 2023 student coordinator. “Our generation is disproportionately impacted by climate change, and it’s time to act!”

YES! was created by a coalition of representatives from educators at Delaware schools, non-profit environmental organizations, and public agencies to provide the opportunity for teens to meet, learn and share their ideas on environmental issues of concern and to develop action plans for their schools and communities. The inaugural conference in February 2020 was attended by student teams from more than 20 Delaware schools representing all three counties and more than 270 students. In 2021, a virtual summit was held with more than 30 Delaware high schools represented. More than 350 students from 18 Delaware high schools from across the state were represented in 2022.

DNREC Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Joanna Wilson, joanna.wilson@delaware.gov

YES! Media Contact: Dee Durham, CEO Plastic Free Delaware, deedurham@dca.net, 302-981-1950

Governor Carney Signs Three Environmental Bills

Legislation encourages adoption of solar power and electric vehicles, curbing balloon releases

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Friday joined members of the General Assembly and environmental advocates at a Wilmington-based solar array to sign three environmentally focused bills that will help expand the use of renewable energy, reduce carbon emissions, and protect Delaware’s fragile ecosystems from the harmful effects of plastic waste.

“It takes all of us working together to address the existential threat of climate change in our communities,” said Governor John Carney. “It is my pleasure to finish the great work of Senator Stephanie Hansen, members of the General Assembly and advocates across the state, and sign these important pieces of legislation to protect our state’s environment for future generations.”

All three bills signed Friday were sponsored by Senator Stephanie Hansen, who chairs the Senate Environment & Energy Committee.

“These measures – along with the updated Renewable Portfolio Standards signed by the governor in February – mark significant steps forward in Delaware’s energy policies and our stewardship of the natural environment,” said Senator Stephanie Hansen. “None of these bills would have been possible without input from dozens of environmentalists, community groups, businesses and advocates who were willing to put aside their differences to help forge policies that will lead to a healthier, cleaner and more sustainable Delaware.”

Signed at the site of a 2-megawatt solar array near the confluence of the Brandywine Creek and Christina River owned by Soltage LLC, Senate Bill 2 is designed to accelerate the adoption of community-based photovoltaic systems in Delaware.

The legislation creates a legal framework that will allow residents to enjoy the cost savings and low-carbon footprint of solar power without needing to install photovoltaic panels on their own properties. Instead, neighbors and community groups can receive a credit on their electric bill by subscribing to a centrally located community solar project, which can now be developed under a variety of ownership, management, and contract models.

Delaware law has allowed for community-owned solar generation facilities since 2010, when the shared solar concept was still being tested throughout most of the country. Today, at least 40 states and the District of Columbia host at least one community solar project with most located in Maine, Minnesota, New York and Colorado.

Under a regulatory process implemented by the Public Service Commission with consumer protections provided by the Delaware Department of Justice, SB 2 requires all community solar projects in Delaware to serve a diverse customer base that includes low-income and middle-class households — an environmental justice component that will ensure solar energy is available to all Delawareans.

“The Public Service Commission looks forward to working with stakeholders on community solar certification requirements and important customer protections which will allow more Delawareans to participate in this exciting, fast growing market,” said Matt Hartigan, Director of the Public Service Commission.

“Senate Bill 2 addresses barriers to community solar development in our state,” said Drew Slater, Public Advocate. “This legislation was a collaborative approach with many stakeholders and through forums held by Senator Hansen. It is a testament to everyone’s hard work that this legislation received overwhelming support from the General Assembly and is enacted into law by Governor Carney this afternoon.”

“Soltage is excited to see Senate Bill 2 passed today, as we know first-hand the impact it will have on Delaware’s solar economy and community solar buyers,” said Soltage CEO and Co-Founder, Jesse Grossman. “This type of legislation is key for opening up clean energy markets, driving economic growth and job creation in the state, and ultimately, helping the country achieve the decarbonization needed to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis.”

Governor Carney on Friday also signed Senate Bill 21, an amendment to the Delaware Energy Act that encourages the adoption of electric vehicles by creating a more accessible charging-station infrastructure in the First State. The legislation specifically allows state agencies to charge employees and the public a fee for the use of charging stations on state property so long as those fees do not exceed the agency’s cost.

Finally, Governor Carney signed Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 24, legislation that makes it unlawful to intentionally release balloons filled with air or lighter-than-air gases. Releasing four balloons or fewer is considered littering and a first offense is punishable by a fine of at least $25. A mass release of five or more balloons carries a civil penalty of $250 and up to eight hours of community service on first offense.

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