Delaware offshore wind report stresses the importance of “flexibility” in uncertain market

Dayna Cobb, director of DNREC’s Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy told WHYY News that flexibility will allow the state to “make sure that we minimize any potential risks, and best adapt to the changing industry conditions.”

“We’re looking at what’s happening now with our federal partners and how they have stepped in to help with supply chain issues,” she said. “We’re holistically looking at the landscape and how we can best move forward in a cost-effective way.”

The new report comes after Delaware lawmakers tasked DNREC with analyzing the costs and benefits of offshore wind in state waters.

The legislation codified research the agency has already begun, including data on economic and environmental benefits, associated costs of offshore wind development, and the state’s capability for offshore wind projects and their impacts on the electricity transmission system.

Among the recommendations, DNREC suggests the state consider partnering with neighboring states to expand its purchasing power, and take advantage of economies of scale regarding supply chains and new transmission lines.

The report also recommends the state research potential environmental or maritime impacts and take steps to mitigate any concerns.

DNREC said in the coming weeks, it will engage with various stakeholders and discuss the report’s findings.

State Sen. Stephanie Hansen, who sponsored the legislation calling for the report, called it a “deep and thoughtful” analysis. She said it’s important to consider mistakes that have been made in the past when hammering out procurement details.

“We have the benefit of hindsight, but we also have the benefit of the experience of our other regional states as to what they found in this process, how the industry has matured over the last few years, and where we think it’s going in the future,” Hansen said.