Pages Categorized With: "Climate, Coastal and Energy"
Emergency Waivers of Commercial Motor Vehicle Hours
Federal safety rules limit the amount of time a driver may operate a large truck. Delaware law (21 Del.C. § 4707) and federal regulations allow the state to grant limited waivers of this restriction in emergency situations. Under the law, the director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) may grant a waiver of the federal 60/70-hour motorEnergy Security and Emergency Planning
An “energy emergency” is an actual or impending shortage or curtailment of usable, necessary energy resources, such that the maintenance of necessary services, the protection of public health, safety and welfare, or the maintenance of a basically sound economy is imperiled in any geographical section of the state. The Delaware Energy Security40101(d) Grid Resilience Grant Program
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), enacted as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Section 40101(d) – Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid Formula Grants to States and Indian Tribes, provides funding to states and Indian Tribes to improve resilience and to enhance the reliability to their electric grids.Analysis of Delaware’s Electricity Distribution Grid
The DNREC State Energy Office (SEO) has contracted with Siemens Energy to conduct an analysis of the challenges and opportunities for hardening, modernizing and improving the resilience of the state’s electricity grid. The Grid Study satisfies the State’s matching contribution required under the USDOE Bipartisan Infrastructure Law section 40101(d) grant titled “PreventingEnergy Resilience
Energy resilience is the ability of energy systems to prepare for, withstand and rapidly restore essential energy services in response to a major disruption. These disruptions can be caused by nonroutine natural hazards and physical or cyber attacks on energy systems. Energy Resilience Programs 40101(d)Evaluation, Measurement and Verification
Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification (EM&V) is the process by which energy professionals make sure energy efficiency programs and projects are saving energy and money as intended. It helps energy professionals assess how programs are working and decide what energy-saving strategies to pursue in the future. The DNREC State Energy Office (SEO) hasThe Delaware Energy Efficiency Advisory Council
The Delaware Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC) is a collaborative panel of representatives that develops statewide programs to increase energy efficiency, reduce energy usage, and lower consumer energy costs. The council was established by the legislature in 2014 as part of the Delaware Energy Act (29 Del.C. Chapter 80, Subchapter II) whichEnergy Efficiency
The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy supports energy efficiency and conservation programs that help reduce energy use and its impact on the state’s environment and public health. Every investment in energy efficiency helps increase productivity and profits for business, reduces the production of harmful greenhouse gasses, lowers energy costs, and improves the valueThe Solar Racer Competition
The Solar Racer competition, formerly known as Junior Solar Sprint, is a statewide challenge of ingenuity, engineering and speed for middle school students. Solar Racer is part of a national competition, led by the national Technology Student Association (TSA), in which students build and race solar-powered model vehicles. It is co-sponsored in Delaware byCommunity Solar
Delaware’s Community Solar program, which is regulated by the Delaware Public Service Commission (PSC), provides an opportunity for Delmarva Power customers to receive credit for electricity generated by large-scale solar projects without installing panels on their own property. While the Community Solar program is not run by the DNREC State Energy OfficeDelaware Renewable Energy Taskforce
The Delaware Renewable Energy Taskforce was established under the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards Act (26 Del.C. § 351 – § 364) to provide recommendations on establishing renewable energy trading mechanisms and other structures to support the growth of renewable energy in Delaware. [modal text=”DISCLAIMER” title=”DISCLAIMER” xclass=”btnRenewable Energy Portfolio Standards
State law mandates that Delaware’s utilities derive 40 percent of their energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2035. Delaware’s renewable energy portfolio standards (RPS) are established by the Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards Act (26 Del.C. § 351 – § 364), first adopted in 2005, and most recently amended by Senate BillRenewable Energy
Delaware supports the use of renewable energy by homeowners and businesses through grant funding, incentives, and technical guidance. The state partners with utilities to make these programs possible. Delaware’s state law requires that utilities derive a growing part of their energy supplies from renewable sources. Find programs and funding availableEnergy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is a formula grant program designed to assist states, local governments and tribes to implement strategies to reduce energy use, reduce fossil fuel emissions and improve energy efficiency.Cool Switch Low-Impact Refrigerant Program
The Cool Switch Low-Impact Refrigerant Program’s goal is to incentivize the use of refrigerants with lower Global Warming Potential impacts. For more information, please contact Lauren Tyre at Lauren.Tyre@delaware.gov or 302-735-3360. Program Overview [button type=”primary” block=”true”Energy Efficiency Investment Fund
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) administers Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) rebates to support non-residential facilities in replacing aging and inefficient equipment and systems with energy efficient alternatives. Program Guidelines Available Rebates [button type=”primary” block=”true”Weatherization Assistance Program
The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) offers a free Weatherization Assistance Program to help establish comfortable, energy-saving homes. Annual Reports Program Year 2025 Program Year 2024 Program Year 2023 ProgramLow- to Moderate-Income Solar Program
The DNREC Low- to Moderate-Income (LMI) Solar Pilot Program is meant to bring renewable energy to a segment of the Delaware population that has historically been underserved by existing state programs and incentives. Grant funding is available to promote the use of renewable energy in Delaware for low-Green Energy Program
DNREC administers rebates to promote the use of several forms of renewable energy in Delaware. Application Instructions Incentive Rates Annual Reports 2025 Green Energy Fund Annual Report 2024 GreenEnergy Office Programs
The DNREC State Energy Office oversees or interacts with a number of state programs designed to help Delaware residents take advantage of clean, affordable and reliable energy. Major areas of focus include renewable energy, energy efficiency, and resilience. The Office works with the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council and helps develop Delaware’sBuilding Energy Codes
The DNREC State Energy Office (SEO) supports the adoption and implementation of energy conservation codes that help make buildings across Delaware more comfortable, affordable and energy efficient. Regularly updating building standards for new residential and commercial construction as well as working with builders, code officials and other stakeholders to facilitate implementation areElectric Vehicle Charging Equipment Rebates
DNREC offers rebates to reduce the cost of electric vehicle charging stations that can be installed at multi-family dwellings, workplaces, outside businesses and in other public places. The Electric Vehicle Charging Equipment Rebate Program provides rebates for Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations purchased and installed after May 1, 2026. ThisPreparing Delaware’s Workforce
Delaware’s path to a resilient, net-zero future depends on a skilled workforce ready to drive the clean energy transition. Meeting the state’s climate goals requires training workers for emerging technologies in renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable building, as well as reskilling those in existing occupations. Clean energyDelaware Climate Action Plan
The Delaware Climate Action Plan charts a bold path toward a cleaner, more resilient future for the First State. Climate change is already affecting Delaware communities with a recent survey showing that a majority of Delawareans are concerned about these impacts and want to see action taken. By addressing both emissions and impacts, the PlanEmissions Reduction: Oceans and Wetlands
In Delaware, no one is ever more than a mile from water. The state’s 381 miles of coastline and nearly 300,000 acres of wetlands provide substantial economic, ecological and community benefits. These coastal and marine systems also play a critical role in Delaware’s climate strategy by storing and sequestering carbon in vegetation, sediments and submergedEmissions Reduction: Agriculture
Agriculture is a vital part of Delaware’s economy and landscape, supporting farm families, food production and covering more than 40% of the state’s land area. In addition to its economic value, farmland plays an important role in addressing climate change by storing carbon in soils and vegetation. While agriculture contributes a relatively small share ofProtecting Our Communities: Extreme Heat
Delaware is already experiencing the effects of a warming climate. Average temperatures have increased by about three degrees since 1895, with the 2010s marking the hottest decade on record. Climate projections show continued warming, with more frequent and intense heat waves, higher nighttime temperatures and a sharp increase in days above 90 degrees by theProtecting Our Communities: Sea Level Rise, Precipitation and Inland Flooding
Delaware is highly vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding due to its low elevation, flat landscape and ongoing land subsidence. Sea levels along Delaware’s coast are rising at roughly twice the global average, with tide gauges showing up to 15 inches of increase over the past century. Projections indicate an additional one to oneProtecting Our Communities: Emergent Hazards
Delaware is facing a growing range of climate-driven hazards beyond heat and flooding. In recent years, the state has experienced stronger storms, longer droughts, increased wildfire risk, emerging health threats and changes to coastal waters. Events like Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020 — which produced the longest-tracking tornado in Delaware in more than 70 yearsProtecting Our Communities: Comprehensive Resilience
Compounding climate risks occur when multiple hazards interact and amplify one another, creating cascading impacts that strain communities, infrastructure and emergency response systems. As climate change intensifies, Delaware is increasingly likely to experience these overlapping risks, particularly when extreme events coincide or occur in quick succession. Vulnerable populations are often affected most, underscoring the needToward Net-Zero Emissions by 2050
Reducing Delaware’s greenhouse gas emissions to nearly zero by 2050 is essential to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. The Climate Change Solutions Act of 2023 sets clear statewide emission reduction targets: a 50% reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, compared to a 2005 baseline. Reaching these goals, however, will require bothEmissions Reduction: Transportation
Transportation is Delaware’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, making up nearly 30% of the state’s total in 2021. Emissions come from cars, trucks, buses, planes, boats and off-road equipment. Reducing transportation emissions is key to reaching Delaware’s net-zero goals while improving air quality, public health and community resilience. DelawareLand Use Intersections
Land use patterns and practices have a powerful intersection with climate change in Delaware. Patterns of growth and development influence current and future greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation, buildings and electricity sectors. They also determine whether the state can maximize carbon storage in natural lands. Decisions aboutProtecting Our Communities
Building state resilience to established and emerging hazards through climate adaptation is critical to safeguarding Delaware’s communities, economy and environment for generations to come. Climate adaptation is a continuous process that can protect people, places and infrastructure; accommodate changing conditions; avoid future risk; and help communities strategically retreat from areas that cannot be safely protected.Emissions Reduction: Electricity Generation and Grid Infrastructure
Electricity generation is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Delaware, making up 26.9% of the state’s total in 2021. Emissions come from electricity generated both in-state and out-of-state which we use to light our homes and heat our businesses. A decarbonized electric grid serves as Delaware’s largest emissions reduction opportunity, as itEmissions Reduction: Industry
The industry sector is Delaware’s third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 23.1% of statewide emissions in 2021. Although industrial emissions are 7.3% lower than in 2005, emissions are projected to grow without additional action. By 2050, industrial emissions are expected to overtake transportation as the state’s largest source of greenhouse gases, highlighting theEmissions Reduction: Residential and Commercial Buildings
Delaware’s buildings are a central part of daily life and a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Because buildings vary widely in age, size and use, there is no single solution for reducing emissions. In 2021, the buildings sector produced about 14% of Delaware’s total emissions, with commercial buildings accounting for slightly more than homes.Emissions Reduction: Forests and Urban Trees
Forests and urban trees cover nearly one-third of Delaware’s land area and provide critical benefits for wildlife habitat, clean water and community well-being. They also support a strong forestry industry that employs nearly 2,000 people and contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to the state’s economy. At the same time, Delaware is losing more thanEmissions Reduction: Waste
The waste sector accounts for a small share of Delaware’s greenhouse gas emissions – about 3% in 2021 – but remains an important part of the state’s path to net-zero. Delaware manages all of its waste within state borders through landfills, recycling facilities and wastewater treatment plants. Emissions from this sector are primarily methane andClimate Action Plan Public Engagement Materials
This page holds a collection of informational materials provided during a round of three community engagement sessions in mid-September of 2025 to gather additional input for Delaware’s Climate Action Plan. Informational Posters What is the Climate Action Plan (CAP)? Poster Delaware Climate Change Impacts PosterJune is Ocean Month
Every June, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) celebrates Ocean Month, a time dedicated to honoring the state’s rich coastal heritage and the vital role the ocean plays in our environment, economy and way of life. With 381 miles of shoreline, vibrant coastal communities and diverse marine ecosystems, Delaware’s connection toTechnical Climate Advisors
The Technical Climate Advisors are experts from state agencies, higher education and other institutions tasked with evaluating and updating the State’s sea level rise, temperature and precipitation scenarios every five years to be used in the state Climate Action Plan and in support of other climate and sustainability initiatives. The group isClimate Change Officers
The Climate Change Officers are representatives from key state agencies involved in the implementation of Delaware’s Climate Action Plan. They are tasked with supporting the achievement of emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2050 and helping develop and update the Plan. The Climate Change Officers are established in the Delaware Code (7Voices of the Tide: Stories of Connection with the Ocean
To celebrate Ocean Month, in June, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is exploring the stories of our connections with the ocean. It starts with an invitation to all to share their own stories of connection with the sea. Submissions for the Voices of the TideClean Energy and Climate-Related Workforce Development
The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy is committed to working with partners from both the public and private sectors and across regions, to assess and develop Delaware’s workforce and economic opportunities in alignment with the state’s climate goals. Understanding the clean energy and climate-related workforce landscape is necessary to addressing the strategies and actionsClimate and Sustainability Initiatives
The DNREC Climate and Sustainability Section is charged with coordinating state actions that reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change and improving Delaware’s resiliency to climate change impacts. They use technical assistance, financial incentives, policy development, pilot projects and education initiatives to meet this charge. The Division is2021 Delaware Climate Action Plan
Delaware’s Climate Action Plan is the State’s playbook of actionable strategies and goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, produce energy from renewable sources and protect our natural resources, communities, and people from the impacts of climate change. 2025 Climate Plan Update DNREC is actively developing the 2025Developing the 2025 Climate Action Plan
The 2025 Delaware Climate Action Plan was developed by DNREC’s Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy, in collaboration with technical experts, stakeholders and residents, as an update the 2021 Climate Action Plan, including requirements in the state’s Climate Change Solutions Act. Community Engagement SessionsPhragmites Management
Phragmites (Phragmites australis) can become invasive in tidal or nontidal freshwater or brackish marshes, ponds or impoundments. This training workshop from the DNREC Coastal Training Program teaches phragmites management in saltmarsh ecosystems. This workshop focuses on phragmites management using current research, experience and unbiased explanations of phragmites impacts, benefitsHome Energy Rebate Programs
The Home Efficiency Rebate Program and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program, which are expected to launch once funding is received later this year, are designed to help Delawareans reduce home energy costs.Contact Us
DNREC Customer Support 1-888-920-1871
