Background

Toward a Sustainable Energy Policy for the State of Delaware, by Senator Harris McDowell

In March, 2006, Senator Harris McDowell presented the following paper outlining several key policy actions for a compreshensive sustainable energy policy for Delaware.

Full Document (PDF 411KB)

Executive Summary

To serve the near- and long-term economic, social and environmental interests of our State, Delaware requires a Sustainable Energy Policy. This policy must mitigate inescapable features of our current energy system: its tendency toward price volatility; the lack of locally provided, competitive energy services; the high environmental costs of its current operations; and the present inability of citizens and small businesses to govern their energy futures.

The immediate goals of a Sustainable Energy Policy need to be:

• Provide residential energy users with the means to reduce their electricity bills by at least 10% in two years and 20% within five years.
• Offer sustainable energy services in a manner that would encourage at least 50% of Delawareans to acquire them.
• Organize a solar electricity market that takes advantage of our State's exceptional assets regarding photovoltaic technology so that, within 10 years, 1-2% of needed electric power capacity derives from this local resource.
• Spur the entry of high-efficiency vehicles in our State so that residents are not forced to be 'price takers' when it comes to transport energy.
• Ensure energy affordability for all Delawareans by creating a 100 kWh lifeline at 5 cents per kWh for households served by the State's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and complement this with an extensive, cost-effective weatherization program.
• Establish State government as a leader in the transition to sustainable energy use.
• Meet all goals while improving our State's environmental quality and livability.

To accomplish these goals, I propose:

• The creation of a Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility whose management is competitively bid and whose operations are market-based.
• Through the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility, the aggressive development of Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Solar Energy and High-Efficiency Vehicle Markets.
• Investment of State collected fees and taxes in these markets and in a Public Sector Sustainable Energy Leadership Program with the expectation that benefits accruing to the State will exceed all program costs.