Delaware Must Prioritize Reliable, Affordable Electricity

October 16, 2026

State Sen. Bryan Pettyjohn

The federal government's latest emergency order involving the PJM power grid should get the attention of every policymaker in Delaware.

For some time, I've been raising concerns about the retirement of dependable power plants and the lack of sufficient new generation to replace them. We cannot expect electricity demand to continue growing while failing to invest in the resources needed to meet it.

That's why I've supported efforts to encourage new natural gas generation in Delaware, including House Bill 186, and have been working alongside Senator Hocker to explore whether the Indian River Power Plant could return to service.

Natural gas, nuclear energy, and other dependable sources must be part of our long-term energy strategy.

We need to stop treating reliable electricity generation as an afterthought. Delaware families and businesses are already paying enough for electricity. They should be able to count on having it when they need it, too.