Bill Alert: Delaware Legislators Want Taxpayers to Pay Union Dues for State Employees and Others   Taxpayers should NOT be financially responsible for any union membership dues. Defeat SB 72.   By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending June 9, 2023     "All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service.    It has its dist

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   NEWARK, D.E.  – The Caesar Rodney Institute released a new report that analyzes student absenteeism before, during, and after COVID-19. The data shows a steady increase (2019-2022) in the percentage of Delaware students that are not attending school. Dr. Tanya Hettler, Ph.D. , CRI’s Director of the Center for Education Excellence, writes:   “Chronic absenteeism has surged in Delaware post COVID-19. Prior to closures and remote learning in response to

Chronic Absenteeism in Delaware Schools is Out of Control   By Dr.  Tanya Hettler , Ph.D. Center for Educational Excellence June 20, 2023       Chronic absenteeism, defined based on a federal reporting system as missing 10% or more of school days throughout the school year, has surged in Delaware post COVID-19.   Prior to closures and remote learning in response to COVID-19, 13% of students were chronically absent. After Delaware schools re-opened full-time post COVID-19, the

Fast-Track Bill: Could Add $8,800 to Delaware Electric Bills SB 170 was initiated by UD's Research in Wind & an offshore wind advocacy group that includes offshore wind developers. This bill is unnecessary when legislators have already introduced HB 99.   By  David T. Stevenson , Director Center for Energy & Environmental Policy June 12, 2023 Bills released in the final nine legislative days are never a good idea. Delmarva Power customers are only half done paying a billion-

Misusing Air Pollution for a Federal Money Grab   By  David T. Stevenson , Director Center for Energy & Environmental Policy (Photo Source: DNREC) June 8, 2023 The misnamed federal Inflation Reduction Act provides billions of dollars in subsidies, including money set aside for low-income minority neighborhoods. A White House fact sheet about this "Act" claims these neighborhoods are unfairly impacted by higher levels of air pollution and climate change and need more money t

DNREC Needs to Establish Wildfire Smoke Air Pollution as an Exceptional Event   By  David T. Stevenson , Director Center for Energy & Environmental Policy June 8, 2023 An extended period of hazardous air pollution caused by wildfire smoke from Canada jeopardizes Delaware's status as being "in attainment" with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards . Being in attainment is an economic development advantage as permits for new and expanding manufacturing ventures can be issu

Center for Energy & Environmental Policy RE: Comments On Dominion Energy Request for a Five-Year Letter of Authorization and Incidental Take Regulations for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Project (NOAA–NMFS–2023–0030)

BILL ALERT: Delaware Legislators Want to Raise Taxes It is a horrible idea to raise taxes during a recession. Defeat HB 128.   By  Charlie Copeland , Director Center for Analysis of Delaware's Economy & Government Spending June 2, 2023     In the last 15 months, Delaware's inflation-adjusted economy contracted a recessionary amount of 14.2%. Meanwhile, COVID-19 Relief Funds have given the State a record level of cash in the bank ( $963.5 million ).   What might the response

DNREC provides no clear path on how the low-income communities with no dedicated off-street parking or those living in multi-family rentals will charge their EVs at home.   By  David T. Stevenson , Director Center for Energy & Environmental Policy May 12, 2023 The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has issued a required "technical support document" for their proposed regulation that effectively bans registering new gasoline and diesel-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    Save The Whales Coalition Warns NOAA: Don’t Allow More Harassment from Wind Power ‘With dozens of dead whales and dolphins washing up … now is a particularly unsuitable time for NOAA to authorize the harassment or injury of right whales and other endangered species.’     NEWARK, D.E.   – The Save the Whale Coalition – consisting of The Heartland Institute , the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow ( CFACT ), and the American Coalition for Ocean Prote