Senate Tees Up Bill to Accelerate Clean Energy Development

Utilities would need to ramp up renewable energy purchases, the state could dramatically expand its support of offshore wind, and commercial solar endeavors would be freed from existing restrictions, under legislation the Senate plans to take up next week.

The bill is sure to please the renewable energy industry and will likely raise concerns among other business interests in the electricity sector.

The 32-section legislation would also require the state to create “market-based compliance mechanisms” to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions for the transportation sector and the construction industry, according to a bill summary.

Proposed Delaware bill to make energy efficiency a state renewable energy purchase requirement

Electric utilities in Delaware would be able to count energy efficiency toward their state renewable energy purchase requirements, under a bill under consideration in the General Assembly.

The bill would also allow Delmarva Power to offer energy efficiency programs to residents and businesses. It is largely restricted from doing so under current law, which assigns the Sustainable Energy Utility that responsibility.