Delaware
50%
Net-zero
Governor
John C. Carney Jr. (Democrat)
House Party
Democratic Supermajority
Senate Party
Democratic Supermajority
Key Offices & Links
23
39
Southeast
Progress by Policy Area
- Enacted
- In-progress
- Partially Enacted
- Not Enacted
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections in Delaware
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 Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2021 | |
Enacted |
Empty column
The 1990-2020 Greenhouse Gas Inventory was published in March 2024. Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Climate Governance | 2024 | |
Enacted |
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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 |
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 Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
Justice Forty Oversight Committee Community Involvement Advisory Council Establishing Policies
|
Climate Governance and Equity
|
Environmental Justice and Equity | 2021 | |
Not Enacted |
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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 |
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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 |
Cross-Sector
|
Climate Finance | 2007 | ||
Enacted |
Empty column
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) covers the electricity sector. Establishing Policies
|
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 |
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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
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. Establishing Policies
|
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. Establishing Policies
|
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. Establishing Policies
|
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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
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 Establishing Policies
|
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. Establishing Policies
|
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. Establishing Policies
|
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. Establishing Policies
|
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. Establishing Policies
Policy Components
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 |