Delaware

Delaware lawmakers to weigh bill to buy offshore wind power

Published

2 years ago

April 18, 2024

Delaware lawmakers to weigh bill to buy offshore wind power

More than a decade after Delaware first considered buying some of its electricity from future wind farms off the coast, it finally has a bill that would set it on a path to do so.

The Delaware Energy Solutions Act of 2024 was introduced in the General Assembly on April 18, and supporters say they’re cautiously optimistic that lawmakers will pass the measure in the approximately 10 weeks that remain in the current legislative session.

The bill would instruct the state, on its own or with other states, to seek bids from offshore wind developers to supply power to Delaware; draw power from a project generating 800-1,200 megawatts – enough to power at least 400,000 homes; pay no more than 110 percent of the average electricity price that consumers have been paying for electricity over the last three years, and invite bidders to include the benefits of their project for climate, the economy and public health.

The plan would also allow a developer to raise its costs by 2 percent a year to allow for inflation, a provision designed to avoid the disruption and even cancellation of some offshore wind projects in other states over the past year. Denmark’s Orsted, a leading wind developer, cancelled two planned wind farms off New Jersey last year, saying that inflation and supply-chain problems meant the projects were no longer economic at the price negotiated with the state.

Advocates for Delaware’s procurement of offshore wind power hailed the bill as a landmark in the state’s long, halting process of securing a major clean energy source that would help the state meet its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“This is a huge milestone,” said Kris Ohleth, director of the University of Delaware’s Special Initiative for Offshore Wind (SIOW), whose report to the State in 2022 recommended procurement because the cost of offshore wind had fallen significantly amid improved technology and rising demand from other states.

The SIOW report said the economics of offshore wind had improved since 2018 when Governor John Carney’s (D) working group concluded the price was too high for the state to step in. In 2011, a developer blamed the ending of federal tax credits for dropping a plan that could have made Delaware the first East Coast state to buy offshore wind power.

Now, the bill recognizes that a switch to renewable energy is “critical” to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and that offshore wind represents an important opportunity for Delaware to advance its climate goals. It follows the Climate Action Plan (CAP), a Carney administration policy that commits the state to cutting emissions, and the Climate Change Solutions Act, a 2023 law that gives legal heft to the CAP.

The 19-page bill calls offshore wind a “significant opportunity for large scale renewable energy power for Delaware, reducing harmful emissions from power generation.”

It limits the per-megawatt hour cost of proposed projects to within 110 percent of the Delaware Benchmark Price, a new measure that adds the price of energy that Delmarva Power has been buying over the last three years to the cost of complying with the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard – a state law requiring utilities to buy at least 40 percent of their energy from renewable sources like wind and solar by 2035.

The bill builds in “non-price criteria” including community benefits and workforce development that a developer could include in its bid, but said bidders have to meet cost requirements before the State Energy Office will evaluate the other factors.

And to ensure “checks” throughout the bidding process, the bill requires a solicitation to be proposed by DNREC’s State Energy Office, reviewed by the Renewable Energy Task Force, and approved by the Public Service Commission.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control sent what it called “model legislation” to lawmakers after producing its own report late last year recommending that Delaware moves ahead with offshore wind procurement.

The bill is being introduced by state Sen. Stephanie Hansen (D-Middletown), chair of the Senate’s Environment, Energy and Transportation Committee. She also heads an Energy Stakeholders Group of utility executives, state energy officials, academics and environmentalists that has been scrutinizing the bill, and have mostly supported it.

An exception is David Stevenson, an energy analyst at the Caesar Rodney Institute, a free-market research group. He argued that offshore wind is more expensive than new nuclear power, onshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture at existing coal and natural gas power plants.

At a meeting of the Stakeholders group on April 12, Hansen made a series of technical or language changes to the bill following comments at the group’s previous meeting on March 28. She said she hopes to get the bill through the Senate by the end of April and to introduce it in the House in May.

Dustyn Thompson, director of the Delaware Sierra Club, and a member of the Stakeholders’ panel, said there is “certainly” enough support in the Senate for the bill to get approved but that “the House we need to work on.”

Asked whether he expects the bill to become law this year, Thompson said: “I have very high hopes that it will. It comes down to how much support we can build in the House. It’s a different political animal, and ultimately, I think it’s going to come down to that.”

But State Rep. Rich Collins, (R-Millsboro), said he will vote against the bill because offshore wind is a more expensive source of energy than any other kind and because he believes Delaware’s legally required net-zero emissions goal is unattainable regardless of what forms of energy the state uses.

Collins, speaking after seeing an early draft of the bill, also said it gives too much power to the State Energy Office which he said is unelected and of unknown competence. “We have decades of experience of government meddling in energy, and they have screwed up virtually every opportunity they’ve had,” he said.

But he said there’s a “better than 50-50” chance that the Energy Solutions Act will be approved by the House, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 26 to 15.

Throughout the East Coast, state commitments to buying offshore wind power have underpinned the industry’s investment of billions of dollars in planned wind farms. If the new bill becomes law, Delaware would be the last Atlantic state to procure the power, and developers are showing strong demand for a piece of the state’s power market as it nears a green light on the plan, experts say.

“The level of interest in bidding into a Delaware procurement, pending details in the final legislation, is quite high,” said Evan Vaughan, executive director of Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC Action), a trade group for wind and solar developers. “There are several lease areas near the coast of Delaware that could bid into and ultimately serve Delaware’s electricity demand. So those leaseholders are excited about the prospect of a potential market in Delaware, and would be ready and willing to submit bids.”

The industry sees the bill’s plan for a 2 percent annual cost-escalator as a sign that Delaware’s leaders are working on a “solutions-oriented” approach to building offshore-wind infrastructure, Vaughan said.

“Both the legislature and the Carney administration are thinking very hard about crafting a policy to grow offshore wind in the state,” he said. “We welcome the chance to engage with them on that.”

He argued that offshore wind is a critical source of emissions-free energy that will help coastal states like Delaware meet their climate goals.

“Even with the economic challenges that the entire energy sector has faced over the last few years, the fundamental value proposition for offshore wind is very strong,” Vaughan said. “It’s dependable, and produces a lot of energy, and it’s close to where people live. I really see offshore wind as a keystone of any coastal state as these states seek to decarbonize their economies.”

Still, Ohleth of SIOW questioned whether the proposed 2 percent escalator would be high enough to attract developers, given that it is less than the current national rate of inflation.

“Offshore wind will have a hard time meeting a 2 percent cap,” she said. “Other states like New York and New Jersey have offered more flexible approaches. So it may be a little bit aspirational; their costs will probably rise closer to inflation. I don’t know that it’s a death knell for the bill but it’s likely that when developer comments come in, we’ll see pushback that they need more generous terms.”

And the bill’s inclusion of “add-ons” such as workforce development and the health benefits of non-fossil fuel energy could deter developers by raising the costs of a bid beyond just the cost of generating power, Ohleth warned. The extra cost requirements may make offshore wind power look more expensive than it is, fueling the arguments of its foes, she said.

“It’s going to continue to make offshore wind appear to be more expensive than other forms of electricity generation,” she said. “How do we really do an apples-to-apples comparison of the generation costs of two kinds of electricity if there are billions of dollars of add-ons?”

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Delaware

Delaware River Bridge receives $600 million for replacement

Published

19 minutes ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Delaware River Bridge receives 0 million for replacement

From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

The Delaware River Bridge will be replaced following a $600 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, revitalizing a main connector between Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and Burlington County, New Jersey.

According to a joint release from U.S. Pennsylvania Senators John Fetterman, D, and Dave McCormick, R, the funds will “advance” the PA Turnpike/I-95 Interchange Program. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said the program is designed to reduce congestion on County roadways and improve traffic flow in the Philadelphia region.

Fetterman and McCormick called the $600 million going towards the project “one of the most consequential infrastructure commitments in Pennsylvania’s history.”

“The Delaware River Bridge is not just a Pennsylvania asset; it is a backbone of our national freight and passenger transportation network,” the statement read. “This funding will make it safer and more resilient for the commuters, families, and businesses that depend on it every single day.”

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Delaware

Firefighters battle two-alarm commercial building fire in Delaware County

Published

12 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Firefighters battle two-alarm commercial building fire in Delaware County

Sunday, March 29, 2026 1:20PM

ASTON, Pa. (WPVI) — Delaware County firefighters battled a fire at a commercial building in Aston.

The fire broke out on the 2000 block of Dutton Mill Road.

Crews say when they arrived, flames could be seen coming from the rear of a commercial building.

The fire was upgraded to two alarms, causing more crews to be called in.

The flames were brought under control about an hour later.

No injuries have been reported, and authorities are investigating the cause.

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Delaware

8 Great Road Trips to Take in Delaware

Published

1 day ago

March 28, 2026

Press Room

Delaware’s best road trips follow the Atlantic coastline, historic inland waterways, and the Underground Railroad. Along the Red Clay Scenic Byway, you can trace the watershed across New Castle County and cross one of the longest covered bridges in the state, while the Historic Lewes Byway connects tidal marshes and sand dunes to the World War II Observation Tower at Cape Henlopen State Park. Meanwhile, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway offers an essential look at sites used for cover and transport during one of the nation’s most critical moments in history. These eight routes can take half an hour, an afternoon, a weekend, or longer, depending on your mood and preference, but they all leave a lasting impression and highlight the best of Delaware’s history, culture, and natural scenery.

Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway

Wilmington is the starting and/or end point to many scenic drives in Delaware.

The Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway is a 12.5-mile drive that packs a lot into a short drive. It goes from Wilmington on Routes 52 and 100 to the state line near Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Start at Rodney Square in downtown Wilmington, then watch the scenery transform from an urban setting into rolling country hills. Along the way, there are several attractions and sites to explore. You could even delay the start of the drive with a trip to the Delaware Art Museum or the Delaware Museum of Natural History, both in Wilmington.

Once you hit the road, you’ll pass luxurious properties once owned by the du Pont family, like the Nemours Estate in Wilmington, or the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, both of which are open to the public. Centerville offers antiquing and Brandywine State Park, while Greenville, another suburban community near Wilmington, is more upscale with lovely homes. A drive straight through will take about 20 minutes, but since many consider it an “arts and gardens” drive, a more leisurely pace is recommended.

Red Clay Scenic Byway

The Ashland Covered Bridge in Hockessin, Delaware. Image credit: Chris Foster via Flickr.com.

Approximately 27 miles long, the Red Clay Scenic Byway consists of 28 picturesque secondary roads in New Castle County within the Red Clay Creek Watershed. Since it features so many roads, it’s fair to say there is no formal beginning or endpoint; rather, it follows an interconnected network of streams along the natural flow of the valley. It’s located approximately between Routes 48 and 52, and it meanders from the outskirts of Wilmington through pastoral and photo-worthy areas.

Attractions to see include the Mt. Cuba Center’s 650-acre botanical garden, the Ashland Nature Center, and the Marshall Steam Museum, which features the world’s largest operating collection of Stanley Steamer cars. There are also two covered bridges to discover near the byway: the cheery red Ashland Covered Bridge, near the Ashland Nature Center, and the Wooddale Covered Bridge in Wooddale, one of the longest covered bridges in the state. A drive straight through will take about an hour, but allow a few more to thoroughly enjoy.

Nanticoke Heritage Byway

The Nanticoke Heritage Byway mostly follows the Nanticoke River, which is one of the mid-Atlantic’s best-preserved waterways. The drive is around 35 miles and features several historic small towns and scenic views of Sussex County. Many of the towns along the byway have strong shipbuilding roots dating back to the 1700s. The byway starts at Hearn’s Pond, north of Seaford, and ends at Trap State Park near Laurel.

Seaford, often called the “Nylon Capital of the World” because DuPont built its first nylon factory there, is home to the Seaford Museum and the Governor Ross Mansion. Also close by is the Woodland Ferry that takes people and vehicles across the Nanticoke. It’s the oldest operating river ferry in the country. Bethel has the Bethel Heritage Museum and a very inviting Main Street, while Laurel contains a large historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Driving time without stopping takes about an hour, but there are plenty of reasons to stop and explore.

Delaware Bayshore Byway

a red fox making its way along the wildlife drive, within the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Kent County, Delaware — A red fox in the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware (Credit: Scenic Corner via Shutterstock)

At about 100 miles long, the Delaware Bayshore Byway borders the Delaware Bay and is ideal for those who want a long, mostly straight, leisurely drive. In fact, its nickname is “the road less traveled.” It wanders past some of the largest preserved coastal marshlands on the East Coast. The marshes are stopovers for hundreds of migratory bird species and are also vital spawning sites for horseshoe crabs. The route passes through numerous historic towns, beginning in New Castle and ending near Lewes, mostly along Delaware Route 9.

In New Castle, there are two historic house museums from early colonial times, the Dutch House and the Amstel House, while Delaware City is a waterfront community and home to Fort Delaware on Pea Patch Island, a Union Civil War fort and prison for Confederate soldiers. Woodland Beach is quiet with a nice pier to stroll on, and the byway also goes by the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and the Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover. Driving straight through takes a couple of hours, but with plenty of shops and eateries, it’s a trip that invites stopping and smelling the roses—or at least, the bay breezes.

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway

Harriet Tubman-Thomas Garrett statue in the Garrett Tubman Riverfront Park in Wilmington, Delaware. Image credit EQRoy via Shutterstock

As the name suggests, the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway features the route and many stops enslaved people made on their road to freedom. It officially begins in Maryland, but the Delaware section is about 95 miles long, starting in Camden and Dover, then continuing north on US 13. It also passes through Smyrna, Middletown, and Odessa before following the Delaware River to Wilmington, where it connects a number of Underground Railroad sites, including places where people fought against slavery and known hiding spots.

Historical sites include the Star Hill Museum in Camden, the Camden Friends Meeting House, and the Old State House Museum in Dover. Close by is the Golden Fleece Tavern, where delegates met in 1787 to ratify the new US Constitution, marking Delaware as the country’s very first state. Other notable pit stops include the John Dickinson Plantation in Dover and the Blackbird State Forest in Smyrna. Allow three hours to drive straight through, and longer for the fascinating, educational stops along the way.

Historic Lewes Byway

World War II Observation Tower at Cape Henlopen State Park in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. (Credit: Jon Bilous via Shutterstock)

The Historic Lewes Byway offers a blend of coastal scenery and early American history, with views of tidal marshes, waterways, and preserved landscapes alongside sites that reflect Lewes’s colonial and maritime past. The route is actually a string of several roads totaling about 12.5 miles, and the individual segments include New Road, Pilottown Road/Front Street, Savannah Road, Kings Highway, Gills Neck Road, and Cape Henlopen Drive. It begins at the intersection of Route 1 and Nassau Road/Old Orchard Road and ends at the Cape May Lewes Ferry Terminal.

The route runs adjacent to tidal marshes, such as the Great Marsh Preserve area, and also connects to Cape Henlopen State Park, with its dunes, beaches, and watchtowers constructed during World War II to protect the coast. The iconic Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse is one of the best in the state to see, and if you time it just right, the sunsets are gorgeous. A continuous drive will take under 30 minutes, but it’s well worth taking the time to wander.

Bethany Beach to Ocean City

Aerial view of the Atlantic Coast in Bethany Beach, Delaware.

Although not an official byway, the approximate 15-mile drive on Route 1 from Bethany Beach to Maryland’s border town of Ocean City is a lot of fun. Along the way, you’ll have water on both sides at times, with sweeping bay views to the west and glimpses of the Atlantic to the east, plus stretches of beach towns, coastal parks, and classic seaside attractions. It’s situated between the Atlantic Ocean and Little Assawoman Bay, Assawoman Bay, and Isle of Wight Bay, in that order from North to South. There are dozens of things to explore on the famous Bethany Beach Boardwalk, from eateries like Off The Hook to a bandstand with live summer entertainment. Fenwick Island State Park has sprawling ocean views, and the nearby Fenwick Island Lighthouse, built in 1858, is also a favorite stop. The drive is about 30 minutes straight through, and can certainly be longer depending on the diversions.

Bombay Hook to Trap Pond

Canada geese in migration at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware, USA

Here’s another unofficial byway, but this route showcases western areas of the state not found anywhere else and loved by nature lovers. It’s approximately 60 miles long, and the journey can begin either at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge near Smyrna or from Trap Pond State Park near Laurel. If starting from the refuge, take Delaware 9 South, then merge onto US-13 South (Dupont Hwy). Keep an eye out for eagles, white-tailed deer, foxes, and hundreds of migratory birds while en route. Side expeditions could include the Parson Thorne Mansion in Milford, the community of Kitts Hummock, one of the best places in North America to see horseshoe crabs, or Dover, the state capital. If going straight through, allow for about 1.5 hours.

Miles Of Smiles

From covered bridges to lighthouses, beautiful estates holding treasures to marshlands teeming with wildlife, the First State offers plenty of miles and smiles. Whether you’re tracing history, following the coastline, or winding through quiet backroads rich in nature, each route offers a distinct glimpse into Delaware’s landscapes and heritage. Just pack up, pick one or more of these 8 suggestions, turn up the tunes, and enjoy!

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