Delaware State Energy Office offers Proposed Offshore Wind Procurement Strategy, considerations and recommendations
In a 36-page report to Gov. John Carney and state lawmakers, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control’s (DNREC) State Energy Office recently laid out changing conditions facing the offshore wind industry, items to consider in development, and recommendations for a wind procurement strategy.
The “Proposed Offshore Wind Procurement Strategy for Delaware” report explored, among other things, partnerships with neighboring states to build up the transmission system in a cost-effective manner, minimizing environmental impacts and a series of federal funding opportunities available under current law.
“This report provides the background, current economic conditions, and options for the Governor and state legislators to consider as Delaware charts its path forward in the development of a comprehensive offshore wind program,” DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin said.
Importantly, the report also established a series of recommendations for how to proceed. Among them:
- Development of legislation authorizing the procurement of offshore wind to serve Delaware, either as a standalone project or in partnership with other states
- DNREC should head development of an offshore wind procurement program
- A procurement program should be as flexible as possible to best adapt to changing industry conditions
- A procurement program should be developed in consultation with all Delaware utilities
- Any procurement program should maximize long-term value and minimize ratepayer impacts
- Structuring the program to promote coordinated, cost-effective regional buildout of the transmission system
- Considering potential environmental and natural resource impacts and including ways to avoid, minimize, or mitigate such impacts in offshore wind procurement planning
The report, including its recommendations, is built on recommendations previously provided by the Offshore Wind Working Group. It was provided alongside the Climate Action Plan Implementation Report, a first-of-its-kind for the state highlighting how Delaware is partnering with federal and local governments, states, businesses, universities, and communities to reduce emissions and make the clean energy transition.
