DOVER, Del. — A group of Delaware legislators has introduced Senate Bill 65, which seeks to remove the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and eliminate its CO₂ emissions trading program. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Hocker and Rep. Bryan Shupe, argues that Delaware has already exceeded its emissions reduction targets and that continued participation in RGGI places an economic burden on residents and businesses.
The coalition backing the bill includes Sens. Eric Buckson, Dave Lawson, Brian Pettyjohn, Bryant Richardson, and Dave Wilson, along with Reps. Rich Collins, Tim Dukes, Ronald Gray, Jeff Hilovsky, Charles Postles, Sophie Phillips-Jones Giltner, Danny Short, Mike Smith, Jesse Vanderwende, and Kevin Yearick. They contend that remaining in RGGI has led to higher electricity costs, making Delaware less competitive for business investment and economic growth.
RGGI, a multi-state cap-and-trade program, was established to reduce CO₂ emissions from power plants larger than 25 megawatts. When Delaware joined, the goal was to cut emissions by 10% by 2019. However, proponents of Senate Bill 65 note that the state has already reduced emissions by 45%, far exceeding its original target.
Citing a recent Forbes study, the bill’s supporters highlight that states with lower electricity costs have experienced higher economic growth. The study found that the ten fastest-growing states saw an average real GDP growth of 18.6% over five years while maintaining an average electricity price of 10.7 cents per kilowatt-hour. In contrast, The same study ranks Delaware 46th in GDP growth, with only a 3% increase, while its electricity costs remain above the national average at 13.4 cents per kilowatt-hour.
The bill argues that compliance costs associated with RGGI are ultimately passed down to consumers, increasing household and business energy expenses.
If enacted, Senate Bill 65 would repeal Subchapter II-A of Chapter 60 in Title 7 of the Delaware Code, formally withdrawing the state from RGGI. Lawmakers backing the measure believe this step would allow Delaware to pursue energy policies that promote economic growth while ensuring affordability for residents.
The bill comes as many Delaware residents have seen their utility bills sore in recent months.