On September 5, 2024, Governor Carvey signed into law a package of legislation to take steps towards the state’s goal outlined in the Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act of 2023. The package aims to improve public planning, incentivize and increase accessibility of the use of electric vehicles, and expand the use of offshore wind energy. The following bills were signed as part of the package:
- Senate Bill 265: SB 265 creates a pathway to reach the net zero goals of the Climate Change Solution Act. The bill facilitates an increase in the use of offshore wind as a carbon-free source of energy and increases the options for interconnecting renewable energy resources to the transmission grid.
- House Bill 402: HB 402 requires that new schools and state buildings over 50,000 square-feet meet structural requirements to support solar energy infrastructure on the building’s roof.
- House Bill 9: HB 9 requires that all passenger and light-duty vehicles owned and operated by the State be zero emission (electric) vehicles by 2040. The bill requires an increasing volume of zero emission vehicles every few years until the 2040 deadline.
- House Substitute 2 for House Bill 13: HB 13 requires that the Director of the Sustainable Energy Utility administer a program to provide financial assistance to Delaware residents for the cost of purchasing and electrical vehicle supply equipment (e.g. charging stations). For low-income applicants, financial assistance may cover up to 90% of the costs. For all other applicants, assistance may cover up to 50% of the costs.
- Senate Bill 237: SB 237 is related to the Delaware Code that requires municipal comprehensive plans for Kent, Sussex, and New Castle Counties. The bill requires that municipalities with more than 2,000 residents update their plans to increase community resiliency and address the impacts of climate change. For example, the plans must consider options like extreme weather preparedness, implementation of walking trails, alternatives to auto-centric developments, protection of habitat areas, and more.
If you have questions regarding the potential impact of this legislation, please contact Christie Heath in our Philadelphia office at 610.280.3902
