DOVER – Days after introducing ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets for the next 25-plus years, lawmakers, advocates and Governor Carney announced a series of measures Tuesday that would help achieve those goals and cut emissions in Delaware.
Taken together, the bills would drive the First State toward a more sustainable future by reducing the state’s carbon footprint, cutting emissions, offering incentives to residents, and ensuring businesses are prepared to utilize renewable energy.
“We can no longer sit passively and pretend that no-action is the best way to protect the planet’s future. Humankind has contributed detrimentally to the environment and it’s time we own our responsibility to address the issue,” said Rep. Debra Heffernan, chair of the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. “These ambitious bills ensure attainable goals that will protect our portion of this fragile planet. It’s time we do our part in the here and now, providing the foundation for future generations, so that this issue will move from ‘crisis’ to memory.”
The bills filed Tuesday are the first steps toward meeting a goal set out in legislation filed last week to reduce net emissions by 50% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. House Bill 99 lays out those targets from the 2005 baseline and would codify a planning process to guide the state to meet those goals and require the state to draft and implement a climate action plan that would serve as a framework to guide state agencies to meet these goals.
“All of the bills in this package work together to ensure we’re able to reach the goals established by the Climate Solutions Act,” said Rep. Sophie Phillips, vice-chair of the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. “Each bill is a complement to the other, helping Delaware reduce carbon emissions, while curbing the impacts of climate change.”
The climate action plan would be updated every five years to ensure the best and newest practices are being implemented. Key cabinet-level departments – such as Natural Resources, Transportation, Agriculture, Health and Social Services and others – would appoint climate officers to work with a chief climate officer to update and implement the plan.
“Passage of this legislative package will mark a significant step forward in Delaware’s ongoing efforts to embrace clean energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the nation’s lowest lying state from the most immediate threats of climate change,” said Sen. Stephanie Hansen, chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation. “I want to thank all of my colleagues in the Senate and the House who have committed their time, advocacy and hard work to making sure we are leaving a healthier, cleaner and more environmentally just Delaware for our children and grandchildren.”
Sponsored by Rep. Krista Griffith and Sen. Sarah McBride, House Bill 9 would set a goal that all state-owned and operated passenger and light-duty vehicles will be zero-emission by 2040. Under this measure, 15% of state vehicles must be zero-emission by 2026. That percentage would increase to 25% by 2029 and 50% by 2032.
Law enforcement and school district vehicles would be excluded from this initiative.
“Delaware is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and we can’t ignore the risks this poses to our residents. That’s why we’ve taken crucial steps in recent years to protect our environment and safeguard our communities through investments in renewable energy and our water infrastructure,” said House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst. “This package takes our commitment to a healthy, sustainable future to the next level. With these bills, we’re not just laying the groundwork to hit our bold emissions targets, we’re also positioning Delaware as a leader in green energy innovation and sustainability.”
Sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski and Sen. Jack Walsh, House Bill 8 would direct state agencies to develop and implement “clean construction preferences” that would allow sustainability and carbon impact data to be incorporated and considered in awarding public works contracts.
Under the bill, the preference would require bidders to submit embodied emissions information related to the proposed construction materials and allow covered agencies to award additional points or other positive considerations. The preferences would be required to be incorporated into Delaware’s bid process by July 1, 2025.
“Delaware is the lowest lying state in the nation and we’re already seeing the impacts of climate change, especially in our coastal communities. We need to act now,” said Governor Carney. “These pieces of legislation will help us reduce emissions over the long term, and make sure we’re living up to our obligation to protect Delaware’s natural heritage for future generations. I want to thank members of the General Assembly and advocates for their partnership in this important effort.”
Sponsored by Rep. Heffernan and Sen. Russ Huxtable, House Bill 11 would require new commercial buildings with a foundation footprint of 50,000 square feet or greater to meet standards ensuring that their roof is able to support solar infrastructure. These standards would include orientation of the building, electrical equipment capability, and roof strength among other requirements. This would apply to buildings requesting building permits beginning on January 1, 2025.
Sponsored by Rep. Heffernan and Sen. Hansen, House Bill 10 would establish targets for the annual purchase of state-owned electric school buses through fiscal year 2030, gradually increasing the percentage of electric buses.
Currently, the state Department of Education owns about 500 buses, used in various districts throughout the state and replaces about 50 buses each year. HB 10 would require that 5% of the buses the state replaces in fiscal 2025 are electric. Those percentages would increase in 5% increments each year until it reaches 30% in fiscal 2030.
The bill also would require DOE to submit an annual implementation report through 2029 as well as a comprehensive report in 2030 detailing future recommendations for electric vehicle purchases and other measures to reduce the carbon and environmental impact of the State’s school transportation fleet.
“Thank you to everyone who made today possible. It is an important day for the First State and we know from recent polling data that the majority of Delawareans want action on climate,” said The Nature Conservancy Delaware Director of External Affairs Emily Knearl. “If we are to reduce the impact of climate change, we need both broad, sweeping targets and specific, concrete steps. The Climate Change Solutions Act sets out just such a road map and today’s bill package will help us get there.”
Sponsored by Rep. Phillips and Sen. McBride, House Bill 12 would codify an existing Clean Vehicle Rebate program the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has offered since 2014 to incentivize the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles.
Under HB 12, the program would allow up to a $2,500 rebate for electric vehicles and a maximum of $1,000 for hybrid vehicles for vehicles that retail for up to $60,000. DNREC would be required to develop standards, forms, and procedures necessary to implement this program. This program, combined with a tax credit offered under the federal Inflation Reduction Act, would bring the overall cost of EVs down, encouraging residents to make a more environmentally friendly decision.
Rep. Phillips and Sen. McBride also are sponsoring a companion bill, House Bill 13, which would require DNREC and DelDOT to assess the availability of residential charging stations for electric vehicles and to develop strategies to deploy additional charging stations in high-need areas. DNREC also would develop a residential incentive program to improve the EV charging infrastructure throughout our state.
Sponsored by Sen. McBride and Rep. Griffith, Senate Bill 103 would make it easier and more convenient to own an electric vehicle in Delaware by requiring that newly constructed single-family and multi-family residential dwellings include certain electric vehicle charging infrastructure. SB 103 also would provide county and municipal government enforcement of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure requirements.
“Today, we take concrete steps to help ensure Delaware is doing all it can to curb the impacts of climate change and protect our most vulnerable citizens from the impacts we can no longer avoid,” said Dustyn Thompson, Chapter Director of the Sierra Club Delaware Chapter. “That is what this collaborative approach really has been all about. What can we do to help every Delawarean, including our children and their children, live in a healthier, cleaner Delaware? This package of legislation helps answer that question and shows that Delaware is ready to lean into this issue.”
The House bills have been assigned to the House Natural Resources & Energy Committee. SB 103 has been assigned to Senate Environment, Energy and Transportation Committee.
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