Written by Dustyn Thompson
Well, our data center work is far from over—in fact, it’s just beginning. Delaware urgently needs transformational reforms at both the state and county levels to protect ratepayers, our electric grid, local communities, and natural resources from what has become a highly speculative and largely unregulated industry spreading across the region. Data centers are already affecting electricity bills, and without strong guardrails for responsible development, those costs could grow even higher. Ensuring smart, protective policies will be one of our top priorities in the coming year.
Our work on the Climate Action Plan is also not over. We will remain fully engaged with DNREC to ensure that the 2026 update to the plan benefits all Delawareans and includes clear, measurable strategies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
We are also eagerly awaiting the battery storage study being conducted by the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), which was authorized by legislation we helped pass this year. While we await the final report, we are already working with industry representatives, the Public Service Commission, the Division of the Public Advocate, DNREC, and legislators to promote a responsible and sustainable market for grid-scale and commercial and residential energy storage. Expanding battery storage is one of the fastest and most effective ways to reduce regional energy bills and improve grid reliability, and Delaware cannot afford to be left behind.
We will continue pushing for reforms at PJM, the regional transmission organization that manages our power grid. It has become clear that PJM alone cannot be relied upon to deliver the clean energy transition in alignment with state policies. States must take a more active role if we are going to meet our climate goals and mitigate the worst effects of climate change.
We are encouraged that Governor Meyer and Public Advocate Jameson Tweedie are helping lead the charge for more state representation at PJM to ensure that the 130 gigawatts of mostly clean power currently waiting in interconnection queues are brought online as quickly as possible.
Another exciting area of focus for next year will be expanding solar options, including plug-in or “balcony” solar systems that allow residents to generate their own clean energy in small spaces. We are working with Senator Hansen, the Public Service Commission, and the Solar Energy Coalition to develop legislative solutions that make this technology accessible while maintaining grid reliability and safety at home for those who choose to install these systems.
Last for this article, but certainly not last on the list of work we are doing in Delaware, is our land use work. That work will continue to grow through our participation in the Wetlands Working Group and ongoing collaboration with Rethinking Delaware. Delaware is losing wetlands at an alarming rate, threatening water quality, climate resilience, and biodiversity. At the same time, open space, farmland, and natural areas are being consumed by sprawling, single-family housing developments. We are committed to advancing legislative and regulatory solutions that promote responsible land use—encouraging more walkable, bikeable, and affordable communities that reduce environmental impact while improving quality of life for all Delawareans.