Why Should Delaware Care?
After public outrage over skyrocketing energy bills last winter, state lawmakers are trying to skip around a local permitting decision that blocked the construction of a new offshore wind farm. Lawmakers see the bill as an effort to reduce power bills in the state long term, and address a lack of energy production in Delaware.
Democratic lawmakers faced more than a hour of angry public comments Monday from residents who largely slammed their proposal to retroactively strip Sussex County Council of its ability to deny a permit for an offshore wind farm – one of the most controversial energy projects in recent memory.
But in the end, the members of the Senate Environment, Energy and Transportation Committee nonetheless advanced the bill to be considered by the full Senate.
Opponents of the proposal say it’s an example of government overreach, while Democrats and environmental groups supporting the bill say it’s necessary to address Delaware’s energy needs.
The bill is slated for a vote in the State Senate next week, after legislators return to session following the state’s budget markup hearings. Should it pass there, the Delaware House of Representatives would then consider the bill.
It all follows a dramatic move late last year when members of Sussex County Council rejected a permit for a substation that would be crucial to the completion of an Atlantic Ocean wind farm, visible from Delaware and Maryland beaches. The permit application, which was rejected in a 4-1 vote, was at the center of a months-long debate in Sussex County.
Senate Bill 159, introduced last week by Sen. Stephanie Hansen (D-Middletown), would require permit approvals for electric substations in a heavy industrial zone as long as it supports a renewable energy generation project of at least 250 megawatts – essentially pigeonholing it to offshore wind.
US Wind, a Maryland energy company owned in part by an Italian infrastructure firm, appealed the permit rejection to state courts late last year, but that case is ongoing. The new state bill looks to get around the lawsuit and fast-track the construction of the wind farm.
During Monday afternoon’s committee meeting, which lasted more than two hours, many residents of Kent and Sussex counties denounced the bill, calling it an overreach of state government.
Additionally, multiple local and state leaders appeared at the meeting to ask legislators to vote against the bill.
Hansen opened the meeting with arguments about how Delaware would benefit from the offshore wind project, citing a potential energy shortage the state could face in the coming years and the 1,700 megawatts of power that the project could some day provide to the region.
She also said she believes the US Wind project would benefit the state and “protect” residents on issues surrounding energy pricing and reliability.
“That is why this legislation is so important,” Hansen said. “This is not state government usurping local control. This is about state government taking back its ability to meaningfully act and protect all Delawareans.”
She sparred with two of the committee’s Republican senators, who both challenged the merits of the bill and its potential impact on other counties. State Sen. Eric Buckson (R-Camden) questioned the legality of Senate Bill 159.
He also said he believes the bill circumvents the ability for citizens to go to their local representatives when they have concerns.
“I know one thing, whether it’s lawful or not, it’s not a just act,” Buckson said. “At least, in my opinion.”
After testimony from state lawmakers, the floor opened for public comment, which lasted nearly 90 minutes. Many residents and leaders from Southern Delaware expressed their disapproval of the bill and implications it could have on local governments.
Paul Bauer, a commissioner for the Dewey Beach Town Council, questioned the state’s reasoning to challenge a local land use decision that’s currently being appealed in court.
“At this point, why are we even proposing a bill that’s going to not just overtake the local home rule, but also go around the court system as well,” Bauer said.
Also at the meeting were multiple people in support of Senate Bill 159, who said the decision by Sussex County Council delays a possible solution to energy concerns in Delaware.
One person in support of the bill was Josh Bowen, a representative of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union. He said the construction of the wind farm would add $200 million in private investments to upgrade Delaware’s electrical grid and support union work.
“These are good-paying jobs tied to long-term needs,” Bowen said. “As our energy demand grows, we need modern infrastructure, and we have the skilled workforce ready to build it.”
Editor’s Note: This story originally incorrectly reported that the US Wind project would bring $200 billion in private investment. That figure is actually $200 million. We regret the error.
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