The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Air Quality (DAQ) will conduct a virtual public hearing on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 beginning at 6:00 p.m. to consider proposed amendments to 7 DE Admin. Code 1147 – CO2 Budget Trading Program (Docket #2026-R-A-0003).

The purpose of this hearing is to receive comment from the public about proposed changes to Delaware’s “CO2 Budget Trading Program”. Since 2009, Delaware and nine other states have implemented a regional program to reduce CO2 emissions, known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). In 2025, Delaware and other participating states finalized revisions to the RGGI program. The purpose of this action is to amend 7 DE Admin. Code 1147 to reflect these revisions. The proposed amendments to 1147 will include adjusting Delaware’s portion of the regional cap beginning in 2027-2037; replacing Emissions Containment Reserve with increased minimum reserve price; amending the quantity of allowances in the Cost Containment Reserve; adding an additional Cost Containment Reserve; updating the regional base CO2 allowance amount; removing Offsets from RGGI design beginning in 2027 and other minor program adjustments.

The web link to the virtual hearing can be accessed through the DNREC Public Hearings site at de.gov/dnrechearings. If prompted for a password, please use: 004071. To access the audio-only portion of the virtual hearing, dial 1-929-205-6099 and enter the Meeting ID 883 5048 7609. Language assistance is available by request within 10 business days of the hearing. Closed captioning is available via the Zoom virtual meeting tool.

Those wishing to offer verbal comments during DNREC virtual public hearings must pre-register no later than noon on the date of the virtual hearing at de.gov/dnreccomments or by telephone at 302-739-9001. The proposed amendments may be inspected online starting July 1, 2026 at regulations.delaware.gov/services/current_issue.shtml, or in-person, by appointment only, by contacting Valerie Gray by phone at 302-739-9402 or by email at Valerie.Gray@delaware.gov.

The Department will accept public comment through the close of business on Friday, August 14, 2026. Comments will be accepted in written form via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov, or by using the online form at de.gov/dnreccomments, or by U.S. mail to the following address:

Lisa Vest, Hearing Officer
DNREC – Office of the Secretary
89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901

Related Topics:  air quality, CO2, permitting and regulation, public hearing, public notice, trading