Delaware

Delaware has made some progress on climate action in recent years. The state aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Legislative Profile

Governor: John C. Carney Jr. (D)

House: Democratic supermajority

Senate: Democratic supermajority

U.S. Climate Alliance Member

Key Resources

Delaware State Energy Profile — U.S. EIA
DNREC Climate Change Portal – Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

Emissions Reduction Targets

By 2030:

50%

By 2050:

Net-zero

All targets relative to 2005 levels

2019 GHG Emissions By Sector (%)

  • Commercial
  • Electric
  • Residential
  • Industrial
  • Transportation
  • Agriculture
Source: EPA State Inventory Tool (SIT)

Use the + icons in each policy area below to explore climate policy that has been passed at the state level, with links to relevant legislation and trackers. Policies in gray have not yet been passed in this state.

Climate Governance & Equity

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Climate Governance

Greenhouse Gas Targets

Emissions Reduction Target

50% by 2030 | Net-zero by 2050 Relative to 2005 levels

Mandate Source

Mandatory – HB 99 (2023)

Climate Action Plan

Delaware Climate Action Plan (2021)

Plan Status

Finalized

Climate Bureaucracy

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory

1990-2018 Greenhouse Inventory Report (September 2021)

Mandate Source

Green Bank

Energize Delaware

Establishing Legislation

SB 18 (2007)

Lead by Example

ACEEE Score – 1 out of 1 point**

Public Fleet ZEV Requirements

HB 10 (2023) – For annual school bus purchases: 5% are electric in 2025 | 10% in 2026 | 15% in 2027 | 20% in 2028 | 25% in 2029 | 30% in 2030

Equity

Environmental Justice Community Designation

State EJ Mapping Tools

EJ Community Benefit Requirement

EJ Bureaucracy

**The ACEEE Energy Efficiency Scorecard analyzes the policies and programs states adopt to save energy in public sector buildings and transportation fleets. States can earn up to 1 point.

Adaptation & Resilience

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Governance and Planning

Governance Structures

Office Designation

Task Force/Advisory Group

Cabinet Commissions and Committees

EO41 (2013) – Cabinet Committee on Climate and Resiliency

Adaptation and Resilience Plans

Action Plans

Delaware Climate Action Plan (2021)

Assessments

Frameworks

Climate Framework for Delaware (2015)

Climate Hazard Mitigation Plans

Solutions and Funding

Building Codes, Land Use, and Zoning

Built/Hard Infrastructure

Grid Resilience Measures

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

State Funding

Electricity

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Renewables and Energy Storage

Greenhouse Gas Targets

Renewable Portfolio Standard

Target

25% by 2025 | 40% by 2035

Legislation

SB 33 (2021)

Distributed Generation/Solar Carve-out

SPOT Components – 4 out of 5*

Net Metering

SPOT Components – 10 out of 11*

Energy Storage Standard

SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*

Shared Renewables

SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*

Grid and Utility Reform

Clean Energy Plan

Grid Modernization Plan

The GridWise Alliance’s Grid Modernization Index (GMI) evaluates and ranks the status of grid modernization efforts across all 50 states and D.C.

50-state Ranking – 16th

Interconnection Standards

SPOT Components – 5 out of 6*

Utility Green Power Option

SPOT Components – 0 out of 6*

New Utility Business Model Proceeding

SPOT Components – 0 out of 5*

Carbon Pollution Pricing

*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Buildings & Efficiency

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Building Energy Codes

Residential Codes

SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*

Statewide code – 2018 IECC

Commercial Codes

SPOT Components – 6 out of 6*

Statewide code – 2018 IECC

Stretch or Reach Codes

*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Efficiency Programs and Incentives

Weatherization Programs

SPOT Components – 1 out of 4*

Energy Auditing Programs

Retrocommissioning Programs

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

SPOT Components – 4 out of 10*

Energy Savings Performance Contracting

SPOT Components – 5 out of 5*

Standards and Market Mechanisms

Energy Efficiency Resource Standard

SPOT Components – 1 out of 5*

Building Performance Standard (BPS)

Appliance Performance Standard (APS)

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Buildings Data Disclosure

Transportation

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Vehicle Standards and Incentives

Low-Emission Vehicle (LEV) Standards

Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandates

Delaware ZEV Program

EV Targets and Sales Requirements

Advanced Clean Cars II (2023) – Model Year (MY) 2027: 43% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs | MY 2030: 68% of new sales are ZEVs | MY 2035: 100% of new sales are ZEVs, with up to 20% being hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle (MHDVs) Sales Standards

Electric Vehicle Incentives

SPOT Components – 3 out of 5*

Charging Infrastructure Incentives

SPOT Components – 2 out of 5*

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS)

State Planning and Investment

Greenhouse Gas Targets

Decarbonization Plan

EV and EV Charging Infrastructure Plans

EV Transit Bus Deployment

The ACEEE Transportation Electrification Scorecard analyzes the level of investment and policies states adopt to procure electric transit buses. States can earn up to 6 points.

ACEEE Score – 1 out of 6 points

Bicycle Friendly State

The League of American Bicyclists’ State Report Cards evaluate and rank the safety and efficiency of active transportation systems across all 50 states.

50-state Ranking9th

*The State Policy Opportunity Tracker (SPOT) breaks clean energy policies down into “components”, which are binary questions to evaluate policy quality. Higher quality policies have more of their SPOT components fulfilled.

Agriculture

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Soil Health and Regenerative Agriculture Governance

Financial Incentives

Technical Assistance and Education Programs

Food Waste Bans and Targets

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management

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Short-Lived Climate Pollutant (SLCP) Regulation

HFC Regulations

7 DE Admin. Code 1151 (2021)

Methane Regulations

SF6 Regulations

Carbon Pollution Pricing

Buy Clean Requirements

What are we missing? Let us know!

Last Updated December 2023