State and city officials point to the new 230 kilowatt solar carport at Delaware Tech's Wilmington campus as an example of a solar surge in Wilmington that’s earning national attention.
A recent Environment America Research and Policy Center report ranked the city third in the nation in 2013 in per-capita solar power, generating 96 watts per person. It trailed only Honolulu, Hawaii and San Jose, California.
Wilmington has experienced a 1,400 percent increase in solar energy capacity since 2008. Experts credit city policies and programs started under former mayor Jim Baker and carried on by current mayor Dennis P. Williams for that surge, along with innovative state efforts and use of federal funds and tax credits.
Environment America's Adam Garber says Wilmington is ahead of the curve in tapping into the benefits of solar.
"It's going to reduce pollution, it's going to create jobs for people and it's going to help eventually cut energy costs," said Garber. "Philadelphia is now trying to follow in Wilmington's footsteps. They just passed a resolution calling for 20,000 solar roofs, and I think Wilmington is a good example of how you can build that solar power."
Working with DNREC, Del Tech developed Delaware’s largest combined use of rooftop, carport and ground mount arrays, an 800-kilowatt solar installation statewide.
In addition to hosting the state's largest combined use of solar arrays, Del Tech has built energy education facilities in all three counties and offers degree programs in renewable energy management and building automation systems
DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara would like to see similar undertakings elswwhere.
“If we can get to the point where the volume of projects is so great," O'Mara said, "that the economics get better and better, we really could continue to be one of the national leaders in this industry in a way that helps reduce energy prices, helps clean up the air, helps create a bunch of jobs. And it doesn’t get much better than that.”
To date, Wilmington has nearly 200 systems that generate 7 megawatts of clean, sustainable solar energy, eliminating 3800 tons of CO2 emissions annually.
Across the state, Delaware has seen a 29 fold increase in new solar installations since 2008.
Across the country the falling price and clean generation of solar energy has spurred a dramatic rise in solar capacity, up 200 times that of 2002 levels.