TALKING POINTS
DELAWARE GOP
From Delaware GOP Vice Chair, Jim Weldin
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CAESAR RODNEY INSTITUTE
CAESAR RODNEY INSTITUTE

A Delaware non-profit committed to protecting individual liberties. Their mission is to educate and inform constituents, legislators, and stakeholders on important issues that impact their livelihood.

CRI Files Appeal to Protect Sussex County, DE from Maryland’s Offshore Wind Project
January 6, 2025
NEWARK, DE—The Caesar Rodney Institute (CRI), joined by many fellow opponents, filed an appeal of the decision of Secretary Garvin of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) to permit US Wind to bring transmission lines from a proposed offshore wind farm under the Indian River Bay and through wetlands. Critical to the appeal is that the statutory and regulatory requirements were not met. Both the permits for going under the Bay and into the wetlands require zoning approval before the permit is considered complete. Even so, the Secretary granted the permits without meeting the zoning requirements. “This appeal is not just about stopping a poorly conceived project—it’s about holding decision-makers accountable to the people of Delaware and safeguarding the environmental and economic future of Sussex County for generations to come.” --John Toedtman, CRI’s Executive Director. This lack of adherence to proper permitting processes is not the only issue at stake. On December 17, 2024, the Sussex County Council voted by a 4-1 margin to deny the conditional use that a US Wind subsidiary had requested to build a substation next to the current Indian River Power Plant. CRI commends the Council for their willingness to stand up for the citizens of Sussex County, DE. The Council’s decision aligns with broader concerns raised by CRI about DNREC’s failure to account for federal warnings regarding the project’s environmental impact. Additionally, CRI challenges the lack of support for the Secretary’s decision. Several federal agencies recommended against the transmission lines going under the Bay, citing the value of the natural resource and the fact that it is already stressed. Permitting requires alternative options to be considered, but DNREC ignored alternate approved land-based cable routes in approving the worst choice for the local ecology. “The project is called the Maryland Project for a reason. The US Wind project offers no real benefits to Sussex County but assumes all the risk and liability to our environment.” --Dave Stevenson, CRI’s Director of Center for Energy & Environmental Policy. The controversy surrounding this project doesn’t stop with environmental risks. Defenders of offshore wind falsely state the US Wind project benefits Sussex County, DE. Claims include the project will reduce sea level rise, improve electric grid reliability, lower electricity prices, and that US Wind will grant millions of dollars in payments to beach towns and the state. However, a closer look at the facts reveals a very different reality. The federal Final Environmental Impact Statement concludes on page 135, “US Offshore Wind projects would likely have a limited impact on global emissions and climate change.” Additionally, The US Wind project is only 4% of the total offshore wind goal, so it will have no measurable impact on global warming and sea level rise. The planned transmission line investment is entirely related to connecting project power to the regional grid and does not impact local grid reliability. An economic model calculates a $9 per year reduction in residential electric prices in the second decade of the project. However, the model has an error bar of +/- $22 per year, so the stated savings have no statistical significance. The proposed grants total about $4 million annually for twenty years in current dollars. That is completely wiped out by just a 3% loss in tourism in one year. The flaws in DNREC’s approval process are further complicated by potential conflicts of interest. When denied access to Maryland sites to bring the transmission lines ashore, US Wind was offered access to Delaware through 3Rs Road in our Seashore State Park through an agreement with Governor Carney that included payments to the State from US Wind. That agreement establishes a conflict of interest in granting permits. CRI acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of those who have stood alongside us in opposition to this project. We thank our friends who have joined us in this appeal and look forward to a full public hearing on the terrible consequences this project will have on our natural resources. CRI is joined by two commercial fishermen, Wes Townsend and George Merrick, the Mayor, Natalie Magdeburger, and the Town of Fenwick Island, and the Tower Shores Beach Association, a homeowner’s association of the development just south of 3Rs Road, where the transmission lines are proposed to come ashore.
An Open Letter to Governor Meyer: Money Isn’t the Answer
By Tanya Hettler, PhD
Center for Education Policy
February 13, 2025

Think Your Electric Bill Was High? Here’s What’s Coming
By David T. Stevenson
Center for Energy & Environmental Policy
February 14, 2025
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WHAT'S UP? RISING POWER BILLS LET'S ACT!
WHAT'S UP?
Media Release: February 14, 2025
Statement from Senate Republican Leader Gerald Hocker, Representative Bryan Shupe on Skyrocketing Electric Rates
Delaware Senate Republicans
DOVER, DE – Senate Republican Leader Gerald Hocker (R-Ocean View) and Representative Bryan Shupe (R-Milford) issued the below statement regarding rising energy prices and legislative action that will be taken to address the issue. “Delawareans are facing an unsustainable rise in electricity rates, placing an undue financial burden on families and businesses. We and our colleagues have heard from countless constituents pleading for relief, and we are committed to taking action. “After meeting with stakeholders in the energy sector, it has become clear that Delaware’s green energy mandates, including its participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), are a significant factor driving up costs. These policies, while well-intended, are having unintended consequences, forcing Delaware to import electricity at higher costs while discouraging traditional energy investments within our state. “New Hampshire recognized this burden and took decisive action by redirecting RGGI revenues back to ratepayers. We are introducing legislation (Senate Bill 64) to do the same in Delaware. Rather than funneling millions of dollars into government-controlled programs, we should return these funds to the people who paid them, providing much-needed relief to families and businesses struggling with high energy bills. “If this measure fails, we will introduce legislation to withdraw Delaware from RGGI altogether (Senate Bill 65). While reducing emissions is a shared goal, it should not come at the expense of affordability and reliability. Delawareans should not be forced to shoulder ever-increasing costs while our state government continues imposing mandates that make energy more expensive. “Additionally, we will revisit Senate Bill 33 from the 151st General Assembly, which significantly increased Delaware’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (RPS). The current mandates require increasing percentages of Delaware’s electricity to come from renewable sources through 2035, while eliminating the previous cost cap protections that prevented excessive rate hikes. We will push to extend the compliance deadlines and lower the required percentages, allowing more time for Delaware to invest in the necessary energy infrastructure without overburdening ratepayers. “As we move forward, we encourage our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put Delawareans first. Energy policy must balance environmental responsibility with economic reality, and right now, that balance has been lost. It’s time to correct course and bring relief to our constituents.”
News Release: February 7, 2025
The Rising Cost of Electricity: What You Need to Know
Delaware Senate Republicans
Over the past few weeks, our offices have received numerous complaints from constituents about sharp increases in their electricity bills, with many Delmarva Power customers seeing their charges more than double or even triple from December 2024. We have met with municipal and co-op providers, spoken with energy experts and stakeholders, and are scheduled to meet with Delmarva Power next week to investigate the cause. Following our statement last week, some green energy advocates accused us of spreading misinformation. However, experts and those in the industry consistently point to federal and state regulations reducing traditional energy generation that drive up rates as mandated green energy investments fail to meet growing demand. Even Delmarva Power acknowledged in an interview with First State Update that renewable energy mandates impact overall costs. As we continue gathering information, we will outline a plan to address this crisis. While there is no quick fix, we are committed to introducing legislation to curb rising utility rates.
Caucus Update: February 7, 2025
Energy Decisions Should Prioritize People and Pragmatism
By Joseph Fulgham,
Chief of Policy & Communications
Delaware House of Representatives, Republican Caucus
This winter, many Delaware families have seen their electricity bills rise dramatically. While much of the escalation can be traced to cold weather, higher natural gas prices, increased demand, and lower supply, some of it is attributable to our state’s energy policies. On that front, consumers and taxpayers can expect to be reaching progressively deeper into their pockets for years to come. Delaware has a multi-faceted energy plan to make our state “net carbon zero,” a laudable goal but one likely to have far-reaching financial implications. One aspect of this strategy is a law revised in 2021 requiring major electricity utilities to derive an increasing percentage of their power from renewable energy. Currently, 25% of Delaware’s electricity must come from renewables, a rate that will rise annually over the next 10 years, topping out at 40% in 2035. Officials with PJM Interconnection, a regional organization that manages the flow of electricity across 13 states, have cited this as a point of concern. They note that fossil-fuel power plants have been rapidly retired in recent years but that the new renewable energy facilities that were supposed to take their place have not been built fast enough to fill the deficit—squeezing supply. Another component of our energy future is the Delaware Energy Solutions Act of 2024. Signed into law in September, the statute will create a detailed framework for soliciting, considering, and potentially approving future offshore wind projects. The statute authorizes the State Energy Office to seek and develop long-term contracts to purchase 800 to 1,200 megawatts of offshore wind electricity. The impact of the legislation could be considerable. Based on the average generating capacity of an offshore wind turbine (55%), this measure would allow state officials to contract for enough deliverable power to service 460,000 homes—about equal to the total number of housing units in Delaware. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, offshore wind turbines produce electricity twice as costly as onshore wind and 70% more expensive than photovoltaic solar. Another law, the Delaware Climate Change Solutions Act of 2023, could impact electricity rates and increase state and local spending. The law commits the state to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% (compared to 2005) by 2030 and to have net zero emissions by 2050. Delaware's Climate Action Plan serves as the framework to guide all state agencies toward achieving these goals. While the law does not grant any new regulatory authority, it requires all agencies to take climate change considerations into account when creating new regulations or amending existing ones. The targets can be achieved by combining emission cuts with offsets, such as new farming and forestry practices. Some of these net reductions will likely be accomplished with new regulations, with the expense borne by those affected. The bill also mandates that agencies consider greenhouse reduction goals when buying equipment, performing construction and maintenance, and designing and operating public infrastructure. More familiar to many Delawareans are the regulations adopted by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) restricting the sales of new fuel-powered vehicles. The rules require that starting a year from this fall, 43% of all new cars and light-duty trucks shipped to Delaware dealerships be zero-emission vehicles. That percentage will increase annually to 82% by Model Year 2032. The regulations prohibit purchasing new fuel-powered vehicles outside the state and registering them here. The rules were adopted even though more than 94% of 4,426 individual public comments submitted to DNREC as part of the regulatory process opposed the proposal. Aside from limiting consumer choice and potentially increasing new car prices, utilities, governments, and property owners will need to invest millions of dollars installing a charging infrastructure supporting the transition to vehicle electrification. These costs will include upgrading the transmission network—a cost that regulators generally allow to be passed on to ratepayers. Holding comfortable majorities in the House and Senate, Democratic lawmakers joined with Gov. John Carney to advance these policies, saying they were needed to battle climate change. However, in a June 2018 opinion column lamenting the lack of pollution controls on out-of-state power plants, the governor stated that "90% of Delaware's air pollution comes from other states." The potential for Delaware's policies to affect global warming or climate change is negligible. Our state's one million residents constitute about 0.012%, or twelve-thousandths of one percent, of the world population. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, 36 states have less expensive residential electricity rates (November 2024). Yet, we have implemented laws and regulations that will pile on additional expenses without any real hope of impacting the Earth’s climate. Our energy future should be based on sound science and fiscal pragmatism, not just good intentions. It’s that belief that has led our members to oppose many of our current policies. Our members believe in energy policies that treat citizens and business owners as partners instead of adversaries. Caring for our citizens and recognizing our responsibility to be good stewards of the planet should not be viewed as mutually exclusive goals.
Democrat Policies to Blame for Higher Energy Bills - Sample LTE
By Michelle Parsons,
38th RD Chair
"Never let a crisis go to waste" is the left's go-to play. Well, now it's ours! Shockingly high energy bills this past month have Delaware citizens up and down the state alarmed and we've got their attention! Now, we need to inform them WHY their energy bills have just about doubled, due to green-not-so-green left no-common-sense-nonsense policies. See below for the specific policies that democrats passed that have gone into effect January 2025. The Red Shift Plan President Trump is moving so fast (warp speed 2.0) that we are finally seeing the left on DEFENSE! We need to keep this pressure up in Delaware. There are so many positive actions that President Trump is taking nationally that are resonating with Delaware citizens, even those that are registered to vote as democrats and independents, that we can take these actions to induce a Red Shift in Delaware, one of only two states to shift blue this past election. How can we accomplish this? Though many of us enjoy discussing these positive actions President Trump is taking at our Republican meetings and chat groups, and though we may feel very good expressing and sharing our opinions in these echo chambers, we need to get the good news out far and wide and share with those who as of yet have just not heard of all that is going on in the nation and how it affects Delaware, and them as individuals.
Rising Energy Cost Podcast Brent Burdge with Rick Jensen
Listen to SD5 Special Election candidate Brent Burdge, an engineer from DuPont, talk about these topics with Rick Jensen Podcast. Interestingly, Brent mentions that gas prices have actually decreased compared to last year, indicating that the rise in energy costs isn't due to the price of gas itself.

LET'S ACT!
The Feb 14th Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee Hearing:
The video from the livestream is available on the Delaware General Assembly website. The button below will take you to the video. The recording started before the meeting actually began. Slide the time up to 10:03:06 AM for the actual start of the meeting.
An insightful recap of the Senate meeting is included in the Feb 14 House Republican newsletter. The button below will take you to that newsletter.

Public Service Commission Meeting:
The Public Service Commission, which regulates public utilities, will hold a meeting on Wednesday, February 19 from 1 to 3 p.m.
File A Complaint
The public can can file a complaint with the Delaware Public Advocates here: publicadvocate.delaware.gov
Write a Letter to the Editor
Sample Letter
Here is a sample letter written by a Delaware Republican Grassroots member. If you would like to join the Delaware Republican Grassroots email chain, email Joyce Hoover.
"Electric costs are much too high. We need to have less or no wind and solar power which are high-cost and unreliable. We need more natural gas, nuclear, and coal. The cost of fuel cell electricity is outrageous. Delaware needs more in-state generation and less reliance on out-of-state and so-called renewables which aren't reliable. Air quality in Delaware meets all air quality standards and does not justify high-cost, unreliable, low-capacity-factor renewables. Delaware CO2 emissions are approximately 0.03% of total global CO2 emissions and do not affect climate. The idea that Delaware needs to lead the way on renewables for climate change is ridiculous Virtue Signaling. The job of the Public Advocate is to protect the public from high costs, not to approve them. Please advocate against the high-cost renewable policies and for common sense lower-cost energy for Delaware. We need to stop this nonsense and restore common sense for Delaware. Thank you." Use these key phrases as often as you can, to continue to hammer the common message that the left is out of touch, not good for Delaware and how we can help Delaware out of her dark age.
Letter Writing Tips
SPEAK OUT on sussex.gop shares more guidelines and tips for writing an effective Letter to the Editor.
Sussex Media contacts
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Coastal Point: editorial@coastalpoint.com
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Cape Gazette: newsroom@capegazette.com
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Seaford and Laurel Star: mmclure@mspublications.com
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Sussex Post: sussexpost@newszap.com
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Coast Press: dcp@dmg.gannett.com
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The Wave: wave@dmg.gannett.com