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Del. senators pass bill overturning county permit denial on wind energy project

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Del. senators pass bill overturning county permit denial on wind energy project


The state has been in the process of creating a state energy plan and a procedure to purchase offshore wind.

Hansen argued that overturning the council’s decision is justified because the state is experiencing electricity supply issues, pushing up utility bills due to having to rely on other states to produce most of its electricity. In 2023, she said, Delaware received about three-fifths of its energy from other states via the regional power grid PJM Interconnection. The grid is made up of 13 states and Washington D.C.

“Broad legislative and administrative programs to specific project permitting have now been upended by the decision of one local government and that one decision has broad implications for all Delawareans,” she said. “That’s why this legislation is so important. This is not state government usurping local control. This is about state government taking back its ability to meaningfully act and protect all Delawareans when it comes to issues of energy pricing, energy supply and energy reliability, these are issues of state level concern.”

US Wind has appealed the county’s denial in Delaware Superior Court, but the legislation could help fast track the project. US Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski said last week the company has the necessary federal and state permits to start construction in 2027, except for the substation. He said they anticipate being operational by 2029.

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Some Republican senators argued the state should let the court process play out. Hansen called delay “as deadly as denial” because of the time stages of appeal and a possible remand of the court case could take to conclude.

“If there was an easier way to get this done, I can tell you, I’d be doing it,” she said. “Because this is not fun. But there’s not, there’s really not. We have to get to a permit issuance so that this project can go forward.”

Testifying before the Senate on Tuesday, Grybowski argued the project would benefit the Delmarva area, not just Maryland.

“All of the energy we produce will be interconnected into Delaware,” he said. “Maryland will be buying the offshore wind renewable energy credits from the project. All of the energy is sold into the regional grid, which will allow it to benefit everyone in the region, most specifically folks in Delaware.”

The US Wind will give 150,000 renewable energy credits to Delaware utilities annually, estimated at $76 million over 20 years, to help meet new clean energy requirements. Hansen said this will help lower electricity bills.

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The legislation moves to the House for consideration.

The ongoing Delaware debate is happening in the shadows of a larger federal fight over wind energy projects. On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order pausing approvals, permits and loans for all wind energy projects both onshore and offshore.

A coalition of states, including Delaware and Maryland, has sued to block the order, claiming the White House doesn’t have the authority to unilaterally shut down the permitting process. A hearing on the federal government’s motion to dismiss is scheduled for June 18.



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Delaware

PennDOT, hardware stores prepare for first snow of season in Delaware Valley

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PennDOT, hardware stores prepare for first snow of season in Delaware Valley


PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Crews and customers across the Delaware Valley are gearing up for the region’s first accumulating snowfall of the season, expected late Saturday into Sunday morning.

PennDOT says it has more than 100,000 tons of salt ready and plans to deploy over 400 trucks across the region for this event.

Road crews began brining operations Friday, which will continue through the weekend with plowing on Sunday.

READ MORE | Accuweather Alert: Light snow to blanket the region Saturday night into Sunday morning

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“Maybe 1 to 3, maybe a little bit more depending on how the storm tracks,” said Brad Rudolph of PennDOT.

He added that timing is key with the snow beginning to fall on Saturday night, while many may be out and about, and with thousands expected to travel to Lincoln Financial Field Sunday for the Eagles game against the Raiders.

Preps underway for first snow of the season in Delaware Valley

“People are going to travel, they’re going to need to take it slow. We’re going to push back snow from travel lanes, we’ll make the roads passable. They may not be completely clear of snow and ice, something to consider,” Rudolph said. “We expect this storm to push out relatively early Sunday, well before that Eagles game, but we still might have some cleaning up to do. We’ll be working long after this snow is done.”

At Stanley’s Hardware in Roxborough, workers spent Friday unpacking boxes and moving thousands of pounds of salt and other supplies to fill commercial and individual orders.

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“Our aisle is filled right now. We have tons of skids of rock salt, ice melter, shovels,” said Joe Jaconski of Stanley’s Hardware.

Customers were already stocking up.

“We have food, we have shovels, just had to get some salt just to make sure we’re keeping the sidewalks nice and safe for everyone,” said Matt Skomsky of Roxborough.

Customers were steady at Stanley’s Friday, and business is expected to pick up through the weekend, but managers say don’t wait to get ready.

“I recommend just being ahead of it. Try to beat the storm because when the storm comes, it gets very busy in here-the lines wrapped around,” Jaconski said.

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PennDOT urges drivers to keep their distance from plow trucks and check the forecast before heading out.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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Done Deal: 695 Delaware Avenue – Buffalo Rising

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Done Deal: 695 Delaware Avenue – Buffalo Rising


Ellicott Development has expanded it local property portfolio. Ellicott’s 4628 Group Inc. purchased 695 Delaware Avenue on Wednesday for $1.025 million. Fred Kaplan Living Trust was the seller. The 8,454 sq.ft., three-story barn-like structure with mansard roofed addition is occupied by media production and marketing firm Crosswater Digital Media. It was the home of WKBW radio for a number of years. The property totals 0.4 acres in size with a large parking lot fronting Delaware Avenue.

The property is bookended by the Westbrook Apartments and Wilcox House apartment buildings, both ten-story structures. It sits across the street from 700 Delaware, the former Computer Task Group Building Ellicott purchased in 2018 and is now occupied by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.



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Man, 77, dies after collision with teen driver near Hartly, police say

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Man, 77, dies after collision with teen driver near Hartly, police say


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A 77-year-old man died following a two-car crash near Hartly on the morning of Dec. 10, Delaware State Police said.

The man, from the Dover area, has not been identified by police pending family notification.

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According to police reports, the man was driving a Honda Accord east on Judith Road approaching Hartly Road about 9 a.m., as an 18-year-old woman was driving a Ford Focus south on Hartly Road approaching Judith Road.

Police reported that a preliminary investigation shows the Honda moved from the stop sign into the Ford’s path, causing a collision.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman, from Hartly, was treated at the scene. Police said she refused to be taken to a hospital.

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

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