Delaware Goes Green

A University of Delaware (UD) professor and several students have proposed a statewide green initiative, which could potentially reduce Delaware’s carbon dioxide emissions and help average households cut their energy costs. John Byrne, Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and director of UD's Center for Energy and Environmental Policy, and seven of his graduate students have created the Sustainable Energy Utility(SEU), which would establish a state-supervised nonprofit organization initially seeded by a $30 million bond. This organization would focus on helping Delaware residents and businesses conserve energy and increase their reliance on renewable energy sources, through five tools.  These include helping low- and moderate-income families  increase the energy efficiency of their homes; enabling consumers and businesses to switch to energy-efficient appliances; assisting residents and businesses as they create “greener” home and building designs; supporting upgrades to high-efficiency “green” vehicles; and, increasing reliance on renewable energy sources, like solar systems.