Governor Meyer announces accelerated community solar projects

Dover, Del. – Delaware’s governor announced the acceptance of four community solar projects into the JobsFirst Permitting Accelerator on Tuesday.

Meyer says the programs will help boost the local economy and reduce power bills for over 15,000 families statewide by 10% to 15%.

“We’re looking not just to do solar, not just to do offshore wind, not just to do nuclear or combined cycle gas, but look at all of the above,” Meyer said.

According to officials, the four community solar projects, developed by ECA Power and located in Sussex and New Castle Counties, represent more than 16 megawatts of new local solar generation capacity and more than $73 million in private-sector investment.

Meyer said the initiative will help residents and businesses save on their electricity bills without having to install the solar panels on their own roofs. He also emphasized the need for more state-generated power as data centers strain the PJM power grid shared by 12 other states.

“Solar energy is a practical solution that is helping Delaware families, businesses, schools, and communities save money, increase energy independence, and address the very real challenges of climate change,” Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Deputy Secretary Dayna Cobb said.

She said the initiative will help make renewable energy accessible for Delawareans regardless of their income or housing situation.

“Not every Delawarean owns a home, not everyone has a room suitable for solar panels, and not every family can make a large upfront investment in renewable energy,” she said.

Vincent Moschella, a representative of ECA Solar, said the community solar project would save families $6,000 a year on their energy bills.

“That’ll bear each family saving about $100 a year, and today, perhaps more than any other time I can remember, we need more projects like this, and we need them fast,” he said.

Moschella said ECA plans to add more projects and, with help from the governor’s staff, he says each of these projects will generate electricity six to 12 months faster than if they had not been in the program.

Officials said residents who subscribe to community solar will continue to get their power from Delmarva Power.