As a result of our extensive efforts to support the bill increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard (R.P.S.) and expanding community solar opportunities, making it more affordable and accessible, Senate Bill 33 passed both chambers and was signed into law by the governor on 2/10/2021. Delaware is currently on track to meet the existing R.P.S. goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025. S.B. 33 would extend the R.P.S. and gradually increase that goal each year until it reaches 40% by 2035.

However, DeIPL will relentlessly advocate till Delaware sets a more ambitious goal in tune with the climate change reality—as many other states in the nation have already done. Among them, some have 100% renewable energy targets like California (2045), Colorado (2050), Maine (2050), Nevada (2050), New Mexico (2045), Oregon (2040), Virginia (2045/2050), Washington (2045), Washington D.C. (2032), Guam (2045) and Puerto Rico (2050).

Passed and signed into law in 2021 was the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy Programs or C-PACE which facilitates and provides a new financing mechanism for commercial energy efficiency projects through a voluntary assessment on property tax bills. Administered by the Sustainable Energy Utility, C-PACE was designed to help qualifying commercial, industrial, agricultural, non-profit, and large multifamily property owners access long term financing for the installation of certain energy improvements. Such improvements may include any construction, renovation or retrofitting of energy efficient technology, clean energy systems, or qualifying waste heat recovery technologies that are permanently fixed to qualifying commercial property.