Delaware Legislature Adopts Renewable Portfolio Standard
Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed Senate Bill (SB) 74 into law on July 21, which requires electricity providers to obtain 10% of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2019. The renewable energy technologies that apply to the standard include solar, wind, ocean, fuel cells powered by renewable fuels, hydroelectric facilities with a maximum capacity of 30 megawatts, sustainable biomass, anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas. Read the bill.
SB-74 contains a number of provisions that encourage distributed generation with renewable energy at customer-cited facilities. For example, solar power and fuel cells using renewable fuels receive a 300% credit toward compliance. Wind turbines operating in Delaware similarly receive a 150% credit. DSIRE, which is the Database of Incentives for Renewable Energy, publishes a detailed explanation of the new standard.
With passage SB-74, Delaware becomes the 21st state to adopt a renewable portfolio standard or target. DSIRE publishes a map listing states with renewable portfolio standards.
Source: August 2005 edition of IREC's Interconnection E-Newsletter.