Dive Brief:
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Delaware Gov. John Carney (D) signed an executive order Aug. 28 establishing a working group to study the state’s potential for offshore wind resources.
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The Offshore Wind Working Group will begin meeting next month to review the economic and environmental benefits of developing offshore wind farms, as well as laws governing offshore wind and barriers to development.
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The working group is scheduled to submit a report to the governor by Dec. 15 with recommendations on strategies for developing the state’s wind resources, including any legislative changes that would be necessary.
Dive Insight:
Gov. Carney’s executive order fits in with a move earlier this month by U.S. Senators Tom Carper, Democrat from Delaware and Susan Collins, Republican from Maine, who introduced legislation to encourage the development of offshore wind resources.
The legislation would also create an investment tax credit that would be redeemable for the first 3,000 MW of offshore wind resources placed in service. And Delaware also follows the example of other states looking toward offshore wind to meet renewable energy needs, such as Massachusetts, Maryland and New York.
The University of Delaware Special Initiative on Offshore Wind has estimated that the Atlantic coast holds 330 GW of offshore wind power, which would be sufficient to power the entire East Coast.
Delaware has a renewable portfolio standard that calls for 25% of its electricity to come from renewable resources by the 2025-2026 compliance year.
Delaware is also a member of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which last week proposed to lower its carbon dioxide emissions by 30%. Earlier this month, Carney also sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, opposing the Trump administration’s plans to allow oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic Ocean.
“The State of Delaware stands firm in its commitment to alternative energy development, and has prioritized working with neighboring states to develop a comprehensive strategy that will maximize the environmental and economic development benefits of adopting renewable energy,” Carney said in a statement.