Delaware’s Senate Republicans have sent a letter to President Donald Trump asking the 47th President to revoke the existing lease and permits for a proposed offshore wind project off the east coast of Maryland and the First State. The legislators thanked him for his swift action to halt new offshore wind leases and permits, but said they remain deeply concerned …
CRI’s Stevenson disagrees on Carney’s response to PJM’s capacity auction
Delaware Governor John Carney and four other Democratic governors are pushing for changes at PJM, a regional power grid operator, after its recent auction pointed to sharp increases in electricity costs. But David Stevenson, director of the Center for Energy & Environment at the Newark-based Caesar Rodney Institute, sees three general problems with the governors’ letter. Delaware’s Carney joined …
NCCVT celebrates $10.5 million energy initiative
The superintendent of a school district believes a new energy initiative, funded by more than $10 million, will benefit not only the children today, but the community as a whole moving forward. “This is really about generations to come, and us protecting what we have for others, and us respecting nature and respecting where we are so joyful to be …
Misbehavior on school buses may become disorderly conduct offense
Proposed legislation created in response to community complaints about school safety and discipline focuses on trouble in and with school buses. Senate Bill 330, sponsored by Sen. Laura Sturgeon, D-Hockessin, adds intentional interference with the operation of a school bus to the offense of disorderly conduct. RELATED: School Behavioral Infractions Remain Above 30000 Annually Infractions include: Boarding a school bus …
Got (raw) milk? Senators, farmers push to legalize sale
While the sale of raw milk in America is either illegal, restricted to on-farm purchases, or other limitations, a handful of states have it completely legal for retail sale, and a new bill could add Delaware to that group. Some concerns of possible diseases and health defects might put that in jeopardy, although a couple legislators swore by the unpasteurized …
Delaware 8th state to legalize natural organic reduction
A law that would put Delaware in a class with seven other states offering a unique burial method passed the Senate Thursday. House Bill 162, sponsored by Rep. Sean Lynn, D-Dover, opens the doors for cemeteries to begin offering increasingly-popular natural organic reduction after death. Natural organic reduction is the gentle, respectful process that accelerates the decomposition of human remains …
Legislators briefed on landmark school funding report
Delaware’s lawmakers got their first taste Thursday of a landmark, 200-page report from the American Institutes for Research that suggested the state invest up to 50% more in public education. The report was released in December at an event that only a few legislators attended, and on Thursday, it was introduced to the General Assembly in a joint House and …
Public Health seeks $3.5 million more in 2025 state budget
Editor’s note: This report has been updated to reflect that Medicaid is not overseen by Public Health The Delaware Division of Public Health wants a 2025 budget of $167.4 million, but about $3.5 million of that is not in the governor’s recommended budget. That puzzled the chair of the state Joint Finance Committee, which writes the state budget. It’s in …
Bills, issues that will be back before the General Assembly
Since this year’s General Assembly session opened in January, hundreds of bills have passed, from marijuana legalization to climate change regulations. Plenty are still waiting for the second half of the 152nd session of the Assembly, which begins in January. Minority Leader Mike Ramone, R-Pike Creek, said Republicans had several tax bills that they are going to introduce at the …
Offshore wind bill sent to Senate; will it hike power bills?
A bill that requires DNREC to investigate offshore wind as a power source and work with electric companies to analyze its impact will head to the full Senate. Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown, passed the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee meeting Wednesday. SB 17 0 would require the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control …