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SPONSOR: |
Sen. McDowell & Rep. Brady |
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Sens. Henry, Marshall & Reps. Mulrooney, Keeley, D.P. Williams, Plant, Thornburg & Oberle |
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DELAWARE STATE SENATE 145th GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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SENATE BILL NO. 273 |
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AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 7, 26, AND 29 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.. |
Section 1. Amend §6046(c)2, Title 7 of the Delaware Code by deleting "Office of Community Services, which is located within the Division for State Service Centers, and Delaware Department of Health and Social Services", and substituting in lieu thereof:
"State Energy Office under the direction of the State Energy Coordinator, which is located within the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Office of the Secretary".
Section 2. Amend §1014(b), Title 26 of the Delaware Code by deleting "Department of Health and Social Services, Division of State Service Centers", and substituting in lieu thereof "State Energy Office".
Section 3. Amend §8053(c), Title 29 of the Delaware Code by adding a new paragraph (8) as follows:
"(8) Facilitate the federally funded and state administered Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and the federally funded and state administered fuel assistance (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP) program".
SYNOPSIS
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This Act transfers administration including staff, positions and oversight of the federally funded and state administered Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) from the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services to the State Energy Office.With more emphasis on saving energy and reducing consumer energy bills, WAP and LIHEAP have received funding to provide additional energy services to low-income households.Being responsible for oversight of the State's Energy Efficiency Resource Standards, the State Energy Coordinator is already responsible for verifying that electric and natural gas providers achieve these standards, in part, through cooperation with the Weatherization Assistance Program.In addition, Delaware's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (a cooperative effort on the part of mid-Atlantic and northeastern states to curtail carbon dioxide emissions form power plants) generates funding for these programs through the proceeds associated with the auction of CO2 allowances and is overseen by the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, umbrella to the State Energy Office.Transferring administration and oversight of WAP and LIHEAP to the Energy Office would enable the State to package these programs with its other energy initiatives, and also ensure that they are positioned for maximum financial leverage of federal and state resources. |
Author:Senator McDowell