Delaware Energy Summary
This page provides a summary of energy in Delaware. Here you will find an overview of energy consumption, listing of energy efficiency goals under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), a summary of the status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies, and a list of political leaders and state agency administrators who shape energy policy for Delaware. You can link to the following subheadings on this page:
- Executive summary
- Economic and demographic facts that affect energy consumption
- Status of renewable energy and energy efficiency policies
Executive Summary
Total Energy Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005 and EPAct Goal for Delaware
(million Btu)
Section 123 of EPAct requires states to set an energy conservation goal that is 25% below 1990 consumption. DOE is currently considering a per capita goal among other options.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Information Administration State Energy Price, Expenditure, and Consumption Estimates (SEDS) database. Note, that 2005 is the latest year for which state-by-state data is available.
Delaware contains no significant reserves of fossil fuels. The Port of Wilmington is a petroleum import site with associated oil refineries.
Read a more complete energy summary for Delaware, including consumption and production statistics for fossil fuels on the DOE Energy Information Administration (EIA) Delaware Energy Profile.
| Total energy consumption per capita | 372 (million Btu) |
State rank | 19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EPAct per capita goal for 2012 | 283.6 (million Btu) |
State rank | 19 |
| Average annual increase in total energy consumption | -0.5% | State rank | 44 |
Electricity
Fuel Sources for Electric Power Generation
(trillion Btu)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
| Annual growth of electricity consumption | 2.9% | State rank | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity production from nonhydro renewable energy | 0 (million kWh) |
State rank | 49 |
Delaware has a deregulated competitive market for electric power. Electricity consumption is growing at 2.9% per year, which is one-third higher than the national average and twice the growth rate for the population.
Delaware ranks 49th in production of electricity from nonhydro renewable energy resource. However, the state has some wind energy resources offshore. Read more Delaware electric power and renewable energy statistics published by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Transportation
Motor Gasoline Consumption per Capita 1980 - 2005
(gallons)
Source: EIA SEDS Database.
Transportation accounts for 23% of all energy consumption in Delaware, which makes it the second largest energy-consuming sector of the state economy, after industry. You can find data about the consumption of alternative fuels in Delaware from the DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center.
| Motor gasoline consumption per capita | 526 (gallons) |
State rank | 19 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethanol consumption | 0 (gallons) |
State rank | 38 |
| Number of alternative fuel stations | 4 | State rank | 36 |
| Population | 841,000 | State rank | 45 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percent urban population | 81.9% | State rank | 19 |
| Annual population growth rate | 1.3% | State rank | 14 |
| Per capita personal income | $37,088 | State rank | 12 |
| Gross state product | $60,361 (million) |
State rank | 39 |
Economic and Demographic Facts that Affect Energy Consumption
The following statistics for Delaware put energy consumption into perspective in the context of the state economy and the size and growth of the population.
Status of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policies
Delaware has the following state-level policies and incentives in place that support the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. The links give detailed explanations of the policies and incentives published online by the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency:
Building energy codes for energy efficiency
In 2004, Delaware adopted mandatory building codes: the 2000 International Energy Conservation Code for residential construction and ASHRAE Standard 90.1-1999 for commercial construction.
Public benefits funds for energy efficiency
Delaware has separate public benefit funds for investor-owned utilities (IOUs), cooperatives, and municipal utilities that each provide support for energy efficiency
Public benefits funds for renewable energy
Delaware has separate public benefit funds for investor-owned utilities (IOUs), cooperatives, and municipal utilities that provide support for renewable energy.
Rebates for renewable energy
Delaware’s three public benefit funds each offer rebates for eligible renewable energy technologies
Renewable portfolio standard for renewable energy
Delaware requires investor-owned utilities (IOUs) and participating cooperatives and municipal utilities to purchase 20% of the electricity sold in the state from renewable sources by 2019, of which 2% must come from solar photovoltaics. No municipal or cooperative utilities have opted to participate in the state RPS.
State standards for public buildings for energy efficiency
State agencies must purchase ENERGY STAR® qualified products if they are available competitively.
