The Delaware Public Service Commission formally approved the Bloom Energy proposal submitted by Delmarva Power. Following a public hearing on Tuesday the commission gave their unanimous vote of support for the project.
In a statement posted to his website Governor Jack Markell thanked the Public Service Commission.
“This vote brings us closer to creating hundreds of jobs for Delawareans and making a substantial positive impact for our State’s economy. I thank the PSC, its staff and consultants for their independent and thoughtful consideration. Their decision to move this process forward will bring significant benefits to Delaware.”
According to the proposal, Bloom Energy will build its East Coast fuel cell manufacturing center at the old Chrysler plant in Newark, Delaware. The plant will manufacture and sell the fuel cells to Delmarva Power as part of Delmarva Power's renewable energy portfolio.
Not everyone sold on the technology
While the governor and local politicians praised the plan for creating hundreds of jobs and significant benefits for the state, critics of the plan raised many questions regarding the costs versus benefits of the proposal. Bloom Energy is to receive numerous financial incentives, and the average Delmarva Power household would pay about $1 more a month over the 21 year life of the planned contract.
Other questions raised deal with laws that were changed so that that Bloom fuel cells can be considered part of Delmarva Power's renewable energy portfolio stating that the definitions of renewable energy were stretched a bit to fit the project.
Check out more on the topic in the article Delaware renewable energy projects under fire.
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