Hearing scheduled this week on bill to advance offshore wind

A hearing is slated for Wednesday on a bill that would set the stage for Delaware acquiring electricity from offshore wind farms.

The hearing by the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee is scheduled for 1 p.m.

The bill, sponsored by State Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, authorizes the State Energy Office, with the approval of the Public Service Commission to solicit bids for offshore wind. Delaware could do this alone or in partnership with other states.

Offshore wind is needed under the state’s mandate to get a large percentage of electricity from renewable sources.

The legislation takes a cautious approach that calls for soliciting bids if it is believed that the market conditions indicate costs would come in at 110% of the average electricity price paid by Delmarva Power over a three-year period.

Offshore wind projects have faced challenges that include higher costs and a lack of infrastructure needed in fabricating and building towers housing wind turbines.

Ørsted’s Skipjack wind project off the coast of Ocean City and another in New Jersey have canceled for no due to rising costs. The Danish company recorded losses related to its wind operations.

At the same time, backers of offshore projects cite the economic boost provided by the projects and the need for more electricity as as coal-fired power plants become uncompetitive with natural gas and solar power.

Delaware’s only coal-fired power plant in Sussex County is now being subsidized by ratepayers.

The legislation is expected to draw fire from offshore wind opponents who claim, without evidence, that the wind farms and electric lines going ashore are responsible for a recent spike in whales washing up on beaches. The visual impact of wind generating towers has also been cited.

Campaigns by offshore wind opponents in New Jersey and elsewhere have eroded once solid public support for such projects.

The legislation has no GOP co-sponsors. Some southern Delaware Republican legislators have joined the Glasgow-based Caesar Rodney Institute in opposing wind projects. An offshoot of the public policy group has been raising and funds. It has also been part of legal challenges to offshore wind projects in other states.

Delaware has refrained from joining other Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states in developing offshore wind until recently.

The state is now weighing a proposal from the developers of US Wind’s Marwin project to bring electric lines ashore in Delaware. The Marwin project is off the coast at Ocean City and Fenwick Island in Delaware.

Click here for the a copy of the bill. Click here to offer comments and view the hearing.