Report highlights Biden's home state Delaware 'flexibility' in setting offshore wind goal
Study by state environmental watchdog underscores critical need for at-sea power to meet its renewable energy standards
President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware should continue efforts to procure at least 800MW of offshore wind power to meet ambitious climate targets amid tightening clean power supply in the US mid-Atlantic, a state report urged.
It follows legislation passed last August aimed at slashing emissions 50% off 2005 levels by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2050.
“Delaware is seizing the opportunities to advance America’s growing offshore wind industry and reap the benefits – from good-paying union jobs, to lower energy costs, to a healthier planet,” Joe Biden's National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said.
The report highlights lack of renewable energy options for the tiny state of one million residents nestled between larger Maryland and New Jersey.
State law requires utilities to ramp renewables to 40% of generation by 2035, a task increasingly difficult as clean energy supplies tighten in regional transmission operator (RTO) PJM’s grid.
“There is not enough land-based wind within PJM to meet Delaware’s RPS [renewable portfolio standards] needs,” the report noted.
“What capacity is available is located hundreds of miles west of Delaware and will have little if any impact in decarbonising the grid in Delaware,” the report added.
Produced with input from research consultancies Synapse Energy Economics and Zooid Energy, the report builds on recommendations of the state Offshore Wind Working Group and the Special Initiative on Offshore Wind (SIOW), an independent think tank of the University of Delaware.
“DNREC’s recommendation for Delaware to proceed with legislation authorising the procurement of offshore wind to serve Delaware is an excellent step in bringing the benefits that offshore wind offers to the state,” said Kris Ohleth, SIOW director.
At a time of considerable uncertainty in the offshore wind industry, “the importance of flexibility cannot be overemphasised,” it said.
The report highlights the need for interstate cooperation in both generation and transmission development “to take advantage of economies of scale beyond those of Delaware’s buying capacity”.
The state has been a laggard in offshore wind, having failed to set a sector goal despite major efforts in neighbouring states. Maryland last year upped its mandate to 8.5GW by 2035, while New Jersey is pursuing 11GW by 2040.
The state’s robust and available transmission capacity at the partly closed coal-fired Indian River power plant in Millsboro is already slated to connect Maryland-based US Wind’s 1GW MarWin and Momentum Wind array’s.
The study was presented to Delaware governor John Carney on 29 December last year in keeping with legislative and policy goals. It will be followed by further studies on specific procurement mechanisms and other lingering research areas.
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