Delaware requires counties to permit electric substations for large renewable energy projects in heavy industrial zones

Original title: AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 26 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.

Last action · June 30, 2025: Signed by GovernorSponsors: Stephanie Hansen and 22 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

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What This Bill Does

This Act requires counties to permit electrical substations as allowed s in s when they support renewable energy generation projects of 250 megawatts or greater. The law applies retroactively, meaning prior county denials for qualifying substations are now deemed granted.

Why it matters

Changes land-use rules for s and overrides previous county-level permit denials for certain large-scale energy infrastructure.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

renewable energy developers

Developers of renewable energy generation projects of 250 MW or greater gain guaranteed conditional use permitting for supporting substations in heavy industrial zones.

Directly affected

county governments

Counties must permit qualifying electrical substations in heavy industrial zones and must treat previously denied applications as granted.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies an electrical substation for this mandatory conditional use permit?

The electrical substation must be constructed to support the operation of a proposed renewable energy generation project of 250 megawatts or greater and be located in a .

Does this law affect past county decisions to deny substation permits?

Yes. The Act has , meaning if a county previously denied an application for a qualifying electrical substation, that application is now deemed granted.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Signed into law.

Procedural history

11 actions

Jun 30, 2025Office of the GovernorEnrolled
Signed by Governor
Jun 30, 2025SenateFloor
Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 6 NO
Jun 30, 2025HouseFloor
Passed By House. Votes: 25 YES 15 NO 1 VACANT
Jun 30, 2025HouseCommittee
Amendment HA 1 to SB 159 - Passed In House by Voice Vote
Jun 24, 2025HouseCommittee
Reported Out of Committee (Natural Resources & Energy) in House with 4 Favorable, 4 On Its Merits
Jun 11, 2025HouseIntroduced
Assigned to Natural Resources & Energy Committee in House

Show 5 earlier actions

Jun 10, 2025SenateFloor
Passed By Senate. Votes: 15 YES 5 NO 1 ABSENT
Jun 10, 2025SenateCommittee
Amendment SA 1 to SB 159 - Passed By Senate. Votes: 20 YES 1 ABSENT
Jun 10, 2025SenateCommittee
Reported Out of Committee (Environment, Energy & Transportation) in Senate with 3 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits
Jun 6, 2025SenateCommittee
Amendment SA 1 to SB 159 - Introduced and Placed With Bill
May 21, 2025SenateIntroduced
Introduced and Assigned to Environment, Energy & Transportation Committee in Senate

Version history

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