Southeast

Delaware

Delaware’s greenhouse gas emissions have dropped by 23% from 2005-2021. The nation’s second-smallest state consumes much more energy than it produces, with most of it used by the industrial sector, as chemical manufacturing and petroleum refining are large contributors to the state’s GDP.
GHG Reduction Targets
All targets relative to 2005 levels
2030 :

50%

2050 :

Net-zero

Governor
John C. Carney Jr. (Democrat)
House Party
Democratic Supermajority
Senate Party
Democratic Supermajority
Legislative session
1/9/24 - 6/30/24
US Climate Alliance Status
Member

23

Policies Enacted or In Progress
across 6 policy areas

39

Policy Opportunities
across 7 policy areas

Southeast

14 states
This map shows the occurrence of climate policies passed at the state-level. Higher numbers represent more climate policies enacted.

Progress by Policy Area

  • Enacted
  • In-progress
  • Partially Enacted
  • Not Enacted
Glossary of Terms
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
partially-enacted
partially-enacted
partially-enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
partially-enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
partially-enacted
enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Delaware

Created in partnership with
Filters
Status Policy Policy Area Policy Category YR Enacted
Enacted
Empty column

50% by 2030 | Net-zero by 2050

Relative to 2005 levels

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Delaware's Climate Action Plan and the 2023 Implementation Report on Delaware's Climate Action Plan

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2021
Enacted
Empty column

The 1990-2020 Greenhouse Gas Inventory was published in March 2024.

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2024
Enacted
Empty column

The Director of the Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy at DNREC is designated the "Chief Climate Change Officer" and each Secretary of Cabinet departments must designate a "Climate Change Officer" to coordinate updating climate plans.

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance 2023
Not Enacted
Empty column

Climate advisory bodies often write or advise on a state's climate plan, and make non-binding recommendations on climate policy design and implementation. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members.

Climate Governance and Equity
Climate Governance
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community definitions identify the specific, quantifiable thresholds that designate a geographical area as an EJ community. These definitions account for multiple factors, including both environmental and socioeconomic stressors, that may contribute to persistent environmental health disparities.

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Enacted
Empty column

EJ Area Viewer

Establishing Policies
Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2022
Not Enacted
Empty column

Environmental justice (EJ) community investment requirements help ensure communities most impacted by environmental burdens are benefitting equitably from public programs by requiring a certain percentage of funds and/or benefits from other policies are allocated to EJ communities.

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Enacted
Empty column

DNREC – Environmental Justice Office

DNREC – Environmental Justice Coordinator

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Enacted
Empty column

Justice Forty Oversight Committee

Community Involvement Advisory Council

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity 2021
Not Enacted
Empty column

Cumulative impact assessments determine the health and environmental impacts of renewing or granting a permit for certain pollution-generating facilities in environmental justice communities. Increased pollution burdens in communities may result in the permit application being denied.

Climate Governance and Equity
Environmental Justice and Equity
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition plans are documents that outline policies and recommendations aimed at supporting communities, workers, and industries affected by the transition away from fossil fuels. The plans often focus on workforce development and retraining, job creation, and economic diversification.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition offices and staff assist workers and communities transitioning away from fossil fuel extraction and use, typically through retraining programs and support with relocation and economic diversification. Offices and staff also coordinate with other state agencies to effectively design policy to achieve a just transition.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition advisory bodies write or advise on a state's just transition plan or report, and make recommendations on ways to support affected workers, communities, and industries. The bodies can consist of all non-government members, or be a mix of government and non-government members.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Not Enacted
Empty column

Just transition funds support initiatives and investments aimed at facilitating the equitable transition of workers and communities affected by shifts in industries or policies that transition from fossil fuels.

Climate Governance and Equity
Just Transition
Enacted
Empty column

Energize Delaware

Cross-Sector
Climate Finance 2007
Enacted
Cross-Sector
Carbon Valuation 2005
Not Enacted
Empty column

The social cost of carbon is a monetary estimate of the damage of each ton of greenhouse gases emitted. The social cost of carbon is used to quantify and monetize climate damages, representing the net economic cost of climate pollution to society.

Cross-Sector
Carbon Valuation
Enacted
Empty column

25% renewable energy by 2025 | 40% by 2035

Establishing Policies
Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets 2021
Not Enacted
Empty column

Electricity greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit GHG emissions in the electricity sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by different amounts over time, often expressed as percentage relative to a baseline year.

Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets
Not Enacted
Empty column

Clean energy plans are documents that outline the policies and strategies states can implement to meet clean energy targets. Draft plans are often published first, and after a period of public comments and revisions, a final plan is released.

Electricity
Energy Plans and Targets
Partially Enacted
Empty column

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.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
enacted
enacted
4/5
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Partially Enacted
Empty column

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.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
10/11
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Partially Enacted
Empty column

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.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
enacted
5/6
Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Not Enacted
Empty column

Community choice aggregation allows local governments to procure power on behalf of their residents, businesses, and municipal accounts from an alternative supplier while still receiving transmission and distribution service from their existing utility provider.

Electricity
Clean Energy Generation
Not Enacted
Empty column

Energy storage targets establish procurement targets for energy storage systems by a certain date, often with interim targets. Targets can vary from broad megawatt (MW) requirements to more specific mandates that focus on the adoption of certain storage technologies.

Electricity
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage
Enacted
Empty column

Delaware received a D grade from Freeing the Grid.

Electricity
Transmission, Distribution, and Energy Storage 2023
Not Enacted
Empty column

Coal phaseouts establish a target year by which states must end coal-fired power generation.

Electricity
Coal Retirement
Not Enacted
Empty column

Coal securitization is a financing tool that allows utility companies to refinance debt they issued to build coal plants and close the facilities early without taking a financial hit or passing costs on to ratepayers.

Electricity
Coal Retirement
Enacted
Empty column

The statewide energy code for residential construction is 2018 IECC.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2020
Enacted
Empty column

The statewide energy code for commercial building construction is 2018 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2016.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes 2020
Not Enacted
Empty column

Stretch building energy codes are an optional, more stringent building code established by the state that local jurisdictions can adopt to require that newly constructed buildings are more efficient than the baseline state codes.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Codes
Not Enacted
Empty column

Appliance standards set minimum energy and water conservation requirements for appliances and equipment.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards
Not Enacted
Empty column

Building performance standards establish energy and/or greenhouse gas performance targets for existing buildings in a state. These targets increase in stringency over time, leading to efficiency improvements in buildings to conserve energy and reduce emissions.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards
Not Enacted
Empty column

Clean heat standards establish a performance standard requiring heat providers to deliver a gradually-increasing percentage of low-emission heating services to customers.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Standards
Enacted
Empty column

Electric and gas utilities are subject to voluntary energy savings targets, which are determined by the Delaware Energy Efficiency Advisory Council.

Establishing Policies
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2014
Enacted
Empty column

Delaware has enacted commercial PACE-enabling legislation and has active programs.

Establishing Policies
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency 2018
Partially Enacted
Empty column

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.

Policy Components
not-enacted
not-enacted
not-enacted
enacted
1/4
Buildings and Efficiency
Building Efficiency
Not Enacted
Empty column

All-electric buildings policies require new buildings to be constructed with all-electric heating, cooling, and cooking systems to transition away from fossil-fuel use in buildings.

Buildings and Efficiency
Building Electrification
Enacted
Empty column

Delaware LEV Program

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Model Year (MY) 2027: 43% of new passenger vehicle sales are ZEVs | MY 2030: 68% of new sales are ZEVs | MY 2032: 82% of new sales are ZEVs.

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2023
Enacted
Empty column

The Delaware Clean Vehicle Rebate Program offers rebates for new and used EVs: up to $2,500 for battery EVs and $1,000 for plug-in hybrid EVs.

Transportation
Light-Duty Vehicles 2023
Not Enacted
Empty column

Low NOx Omnibus Rules establish stringent tailpipe emission standards for heavy duty vehicles, updated testing procedures, and technology-neutral compliance mechanisms to reduce nitrous oxide (NOx) pollution. The regulation must be adopted first by California, and other states may adopt the regulation under the federal Clean Air Act.

Transportation
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Not Enacted
Empty column

Medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) zero-emission vehicle mandates, also known as "Advanced Clean Trucks", require automakers to produce and sell a certain number of zero-emission MHD vehicles to fulfill a quota based on a percentage of total sales in states.

Transportation
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Not Enacted
Empty column

Medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) electric vehicle rebates consist of programs and policies that offer rebates to make MHD electric vehicles more affordable to increase their adoption in a state.

Transportation
Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Enacted
Empty column

15% of passenger and light-duty vehicles owned and operated by the state must be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by 2026 | 15% are ZEVs by 2029 | 50% are ZEVs by 2035 | 100% are ZEVs by 2040

Establishing Policies
Transportation
Lead by Example 2024
Enacted
Empty column

5% of annual school bus purchases are electric in 2025 | 10% in 2026 | 15% in 2027 | 20% in 2028 | 25% in 2029 | 30% in 2030

Establishing Policies
Transportation
Lead by Example 2023
Enacted
Empty column

Requires new single-family residential dwellings to install at least one EV capable parking space, and new multi-family dwellings to install at least 5% of total parking spaces as EV charging spaces and an additional 10% as EV-capable spaces.

Establishing Policies
Transportation
EV Charging Infrastructure 2023
Enacted
Empty column

The Clean Transportation Incentive Program offers rebates of up to $2,500 per port for the purchase and installation of Level 2 EV charging stations for public, workplace, fleet, and multi-family residential locations.

Transportation
EV Charging Infrastructure
Not Enacted
Empty column

Electric vehicle (EV) and EV charging infrastructure plans are documents that provide a framework to guide the development, coordination, and adoption of EVs and EV charging infrastructure.

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets
Not Enacted
Empty column

Transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction targets are set by a state to limit emissions in the transportation sector. These targets aim to reduce emissions by specific amounts over time, often expressed as a percentage reduction from a baseline year.

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets
Not Enacted
Empty column

A low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) is a market-based mechanism to reduce the carbon intensity of transportation fuels and account for the fuel's life cycle greenhouse gas emissions.

Transportation
Transportation Plans and Targets
Partially Enacted
Empty column

Delaware is ranked 9th out of 50 in the 2022 Bicycle Friendly State rankings by the League of American Bicyclists.

Policy Components
enacted
enacted
enacted
enacted
not-enacted
4/5
Transportation
Public and Active Transportation
Not Enacted
Empty column

Buy clean requirements mandate or incentivize the use of low-carbon construction materials, such as concrete and steel, in public projects to address embodied carbon.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Industrial Decarbonization
Enacted
Empty column

The state prohibits certain HFCs in specific stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning end-uses.

Establishing Policies
Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
F-gas Regulations 2021
Not Enacted
Empty column

Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, bans, or other measures that reduce SF6 usage and emissions.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
F-gas Regulations
Not Enacted
Empty column

Oil and gas methane regulations include phasedown commitments, reporting requirements, leak detection and repair, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from oil and gas production.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Oil and Gas Regulations
Not Enacted
Empty column

Fracking bans prohibit the practice of hydraulic fracking for the production of oil and/or natural gas by a certain year. Legislation often requires an environmental agency or department to promulgate regulations.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Oil and Gas Regulations
Not Enacted
Empty column

Landfill methane regulations include rulemakings, emissions monitoring, emissions control, or other measures that reduce methane emissions from decaying organic waste in landfills.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Waste Management
Not Enacted
Empty column

Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Industry, Materials, and Waste Management
Waste Management
Not Enacted
Empty column

Agriculture financial incentives support healthy soils and regenerative agriculture. Incentives may include reduced crop insurance premiums, property tax exemptions, grants, or cost-share programs.

Natural and Working Lands
Agriculture
Not Enacted
Empty column

Agriculture technical assistance programs provide state-driven technical assistance, apprenticeship and mentorship programs, and support securing additional funding for farmers to increase uptake of soil health practices.

Natural and Working Lands
Agriculture

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

Much of the information contained in this database is derived from the public domain, with links to resources provided. The information provided is made available solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Click here for full Terms of Use.

Report an issue
See something we’re missing or a needed correction in our data?