SB 170 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

Hansen DELAWARE& STATERep. SENATE 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE AMENDMENT NO.

1Osienski TO& SENATERep. BILL NO.

170Romer AMEND& SenateSen. Bill No.

170Huxtable by& deletingSen. the sentence beginning on line 50 with the words “The Department shall” and ending on line 52, and by substituting in lieu thereof the following:

“TheWalsh Department& shallSen. consult with the PSC, the DPA, and all electric utilities in Delaware prior to engaging with PJM Interconnection in this analysis and shall provide the results of any such analysis to the PSC, the DPA, and all electric utilities in Delaware.” FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No.

170Hoffner bySens. deleting the sentence that appears on line 55 beginning with the words “The Department shall” and by substituting in lieu thereof the following:

“TheMantzavinos, DepartmentS. shall report to the PSC, the DPA, and all electric utilities in Delaware on this effort.” FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No.

170McBride, onSokola, lineSturgeon, 57,Townsend; by adding “, including those” after the word “processes”.

FURTHERReps. AMEND Senate Bill No.

170Baumbach, onBush, lineGriffith, 70,Lambert, byPhillips, deletingWilson-Anton theDELAWARE following:STATE SENATE 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE BILL NO.

“and170 capacityAN andACT energyTO markets”.AMEND TITLE 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY.

SYNOPSISWHEREAS, Thisanthropogenic amendmentemissions requires the Department of Naturalgreenhouse Resourcesgases andare Environmentalcontributing Control (DNREC) to consultclimate withchange, allthreatening electric utilities in Delaware, in addition to consulting with the Publichealth Service Commission (PSC) and thewell-being Division of the Publicpeople Advocate (DPA), in the analysis of theDelaware; impacts of offshore wind transmission and procurement by Delaware of electricity from offshore wind projects.

Itand alsoWHEREAS, requiresthe DNRECthreat tothat reportclimate tochange allposes electricto utilitiesDelaware inis Delaware,multi-faceted, resulting in additionsevere toimpacts thesuch PSCas andsea thelevel DPA,rise, aboutdisruption its efforts to consultthe withhydrologic othercycle, statemore energyfrequent officesand inintense statesheatwaves, serveddroughts, byand thestorms; PJM Interconnection to evaluate regional electric transmission cooperation.

Thisand amendmentWHEREAS, alsoDelaware deleteshas the provisionlowest mean elevation of any state in the Billnation thatand mandatesthe thatState DNRECis studyparticularly thevulnerable to related climate change impacts onlike capacitysea andlevel energyrise, marketsflooding, insaltwater theintrusion courseinto ofdrinking thewater, offshoreerosion, windwetland procurementloss, process.beach loss, and extreme storm events;

and WHEREAS, offshore wind power represents a significant opportunity for large scale renewable energy power for Delaware, reducing harmful emissions from power generation;

and WHEREAS, other Atlantic states have contracted for power from offshore wind facilities and the contract prices for the electricity from Atlantic offshore wind have fallen significantly over time;

and WHEREAS, any contract for Delaware offshore wind development should ensure cost-effective projects from qualified, experienced developers;

and WHEREAS, transmission of power from an offshore wind facility is a significant consideration, but careful planning of transmission can increase grid resilience and lessen environmental impacts;

and WHEREAS, the development of an offshore wind facility in waters off the coast of Delaware or adjacent areas is likely to bring additional economic benefits, including business and employment opportunities;

and WHEREAS, careful planning of offshore wind development opportunities, transmission opportunities, and procurement strategies will help ensure the best opportunities for Delaware and all Delawareans.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1.

Amend § 8051, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and by redesignating accordingly:

SD :

FJM :

CBK Page 1 of 3 Released:

06/08/2023 05:21 PM § 8051.

Short title;

declaration of policy.

(b) The General Assembly finds and declares that:

(6) It is in the public interest of the State to evaluate the impact on the transmission system of the offshore wind procurement goals of other states within the PJM region and the potential for procurement of electricity from offshore wind projects by Delaware;

(7) It is in the public interest of the State to evaluate procurement of electricity from offshore wind projects given the potential economic development opportunities of the emerging offshore wind industry, the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollutants, and the potential for a long-term, large scale, stable source of electricity for the State;

and (6) (8) The establishment of the State Energy Office is in the public interest and will promote the general welfare by assuring coordinated and efficient management of state energy policy.

Section 2.

Amend § 8056, Title 29 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and by redesignating accordingly:

§ 8056.

[Reserved.] Offshore Wind Transmission and Procurement Analysis.

(a) Definitions.

For the purposes of this section: