AGP Executive Report

Delaware Data Center Protections: Gov. Matt Meyer signed a package of energy consumer protection laws aimed at stopping hyperscale data centers from shifting operating and grid-upgrade costs onto everyday ratepayers, including a separate higher electricity rate for these facilities. Flood Monitoring Upgrade: Delaware County is rolling out 70 AWARE flood gauges to track river and tributary water levels in real time, helping municipalities respond faster as intense storms strain aging infrastructure. Fracking Fight: Environmental groups say the Delaware River Basin fracking ban still faces political and industry pressure after a failed congressional push to overturn it, and they’re planning a rally to defend the watershed-wide prohibition. Clean Energy Investment: Aligned Climate Capital held the first close of a new $500M distributed solar and storage fund, with recent activity including construction financing for two Delaware community solar projects. Wildlife Agency Efficiency Debate: Pennsylvania’s PGC and PFBC directors responded to a study that suggests combining overlapping law-enforcement roles but stops short of calling for a full merger. PFAS Bill Credit: Tidewater Utilities will refund about $0.5M to Delaware customers via a September bill credit funded by PFAS-related litigation proceeds. Heat Advisory: A heat advisory is in effect for parts of the region, warning of heat illness risk from hot, humid conditions.

Delaware Data Center Power Rules: Gov. Matt Meyer signed a package to stop residents and small businesses from subsidizing hyperscale data centers, including a separate higher electricity rate for these facilities and limits on certain job-linked tax credits. PFAS Relief for Water Customers: Tidewater Utilities will refund about $0.5 million to customers via September bill credits funded by PFAS-related litigation proceeds. Water Quality Grants: DNREC is taking proposals for Community Water Quality Improvement Grants (matching funds of $25,000–$75,000), with a submission deadline of Oct. 30. Air Pollution Oversight Fight: California AG Bonta and CARB urged EPA to withdraw a proposal that would loosen NOx rules for heavy-duty vehicles, warning it would harm public health, especially in environmental justice communities. Mining Cleanup in Delaware Court: A Delaware bankruptcy judge rejected CARB’s bid to force a future buyer of Searles Valley Minerals’ Trona operations to inherit a $76.3 million environmental obligation. Local Concern, Real Impact: Lewes residents are pushing back on traffic calming changes they say are increasing noise pollution from stop-sign enforcement.

PFAS & Drinking Water: Tidewater Utilities says it will issue a one-time September 2026 bill credit funded by PFAS-related litigation proceeds, averaging about $8.50 per customer, as it continues PFAS treatment and monitoring upgrades. Water Quality Grants: DNREC is taking proposals for Community Water Quality Improvement Grants, offering $25,000–$75,000 matching awards (up to two proposals each) with an Oct. 30 deadline, targeting measurable improvements like stormwater retrofits, living shorelines, and other watershed-focused projects. Local Nature Education: Greater Pike Community Foundation is funding a Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom program for Dingman-Delaware Middle School sixth graders, pairing hands-on trout raising with conservation learning and a legacy of local habitat projects. Flood Risk & Resilience: A Philadelphia neighborhood plan for Eastwick centers on a levee, drainage upgrades, a wetland park, and buyouts as flooding worsens with heavier inland rainfall and higher sea levels. Wildlife & Habitat: A Delaware-focused lawn-to-wildlife gardening push highlights how reducing turf and planting natives can support pollinators and biodiversity.

Delaware Coastal Wildlife Protection: DNREC will reopen The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park’s oceanside beach to anglers and beachgoers on Sept. 1, while keeping the bayside beach closed until Oct. 1 to protect migrating shorebirds. Local Land-Use & Growth Pressure: Sussex County Council is nearing a vote on draft forest preservation rules for subdivisions, including keeping at least 30% forest in growth areas and 50% in rural areas, with details on exemptions still being worked out. Environmental Cleanup & Reuse: DNREC is negotiating a brownfields development agreement for a former boat maintenance yard near the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, paving the way for a residential townhome project after operations end by March 1, 2028. Clean Energy for Data Centers: Delaware lawmakers signed the first-of-its-kind bill requiring clean energy for hyperscale data centers, as the state continues to tighten rules around the fast-growing sector. Wildlife-Friendly Landscaping: A University of Delaware entomologist highlights how converting lawns to native, wildlife-friendly gardens can boost habitat for birds and butterflies while cutting pollution runoff from fertilizers and pesticides. Regional Climate Extremes: Flash flooding in the Grand Canyon led to evacuations and missing-person searches, underscoring how extreme storms can quickly overwhelm outdoor recreation plans.

Conservation & Wildlife: DNREC will reopen The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park’s oceanside beach on Sept. 1, while keeping the bayside beach closed through Oct. 1 to protect migrating shorebirds; this year DNREC added new least tern nesting exclosures and predator protection to boost survival. Endangered Species Update: Biologists report rare signs that Atlantic sturgeon are spawning in Maryland’s Marshyhope Creek, with multiple adult females found ready to reproduce—an important win for a species long thought to be gone from some waterways. Climate Outlook: NOAA says this winter could bring an exceptionally strong El Niño, which typically increases winter storm frequency for the East Coast and can mean mixed snow-and-rain conditions. Land & Water Stewardship: Sussex County is nearing a vote on draft forest preservation and tree-planting rules for housing subdivisions, aiming to protect a set share of forest in growth and rural areas. Community & Habitat-Friendly Living: A Delaware-area Master Gardener piece urges homeowners to convert lawns into wildlife-friendly gardens, citing reduced pollution runoff and more habitat for birds and pollinators.

Shorebird Protection: DNREC will reopen The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park’s oceanside beach on Sept. 1, while keeping the bayside beach closed until Oct. 1 to protect migrating shorebirds. Wildlife-Friendly Lawns: A Master Gardener guide urges Delaware residents to cut back on water-heavy lawns and switch to native, wildlife-supporting gardens—pointing to pollution from fertilizers and gas-powered yard tools. Tree Rules in Sussex: Sussex County’s draft forest preservation and tree-planting rules are nearing completion, with a likely Sept. 1 vote; the proposal would require preserving 30% forest in growth areas and 50% in rural areas. Clean Water Watch: A study ranks Columbia (college towns nationwide) mid-tier for drinking water, flagging lead concerns while noting no PFAS detections in the measured categories. Local Conservation Leadership: Delaware Highlands Conservancy names Trey Talley its new executive director, effective Aug. 24, to continue land protection and education at the Van Scott Nature Reserve. Brownfields to Homes: DNREC is negotiating a remediation agreement for a Rehoboth Beach site near the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, shifting a former boat maintenance yard toward townhome development. Data Center Clean Energy Push: Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer signed legislation requiring clean energy for hyperscale data centers, adding to the state’s push to curb climate impacts from power-hungry growth.

Coastal Wildlife Protection: DNREC will reopen The Point at Cape Henlopen State Park’s oceanside beach on Sept. 1, while keeping the bayside beach closed until Oct. 1 to protect migrating shorebirds. The long-running seasonal closures support threatened and endangered nesters like piping plovers and least terns, with this year’s plan adding new fenced nesting exclosures and habitat protections. Local Land-Use & Growth Pressure: Sussex County’s draft forest preservation rules are nearing completion, with a likely Sept. 1 vote. The proposal would require subdivisions to preserve at least 30% forest in growth areas and 50% in rural areas, with details still being finalized on exemptions and what counts as “forest.” Cleanup & Redevelopment: DNREC is negotiating a brownfields development agreement for a former boat maintenance yard in Rehoboth Beach, west of the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal, where operations will end by March 1, 2028 and the site is slated for townhomes. Climate Outlook: NOAA says this winter could bring an exceptionally strong El Niño, which typically increases winter storm frequency and can mean mixed snow-and-rain impacts along the East Coast.

Delaware Data Center Policy: Delaware lawmakers and Gov. Matt Meyer have moved to tighten rules for hyperscale data centers, and a major proposed project near Delaware City (“Project Washington”) appears to be stuck after a Coastal Zone Act ruling and a later voluntary withdrawal of a court appeal. Upper Delaware Conservation: Delaware Highlands Conservancy named Trey Talley its new executive director, effective Aug. 24, as it continues land protection and education around the Van Scott Nature Reserve. Coastal Resilience & Habitat: Children’s Beach House in Lewes is removing declining trees and replanting for safer grounds and long-term ecosystem support, partnering with the City of Lewes and the Delaware Forest Service. Clean Water & Oyster Restoration: A Chesapeake Bay study finds crushed, recycled concrete can serve as a safe base for oyster reefs without dangerous chemical leaching—potentially easing the shortage of natural oyster shell. Local Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Delaware County (NY) will host its 30th annual Clean Sweep chemical disposal event Oct. 9-10, with registration required and separate days for businesses/farms/municipalities vs. households.

Delaware Data Centers: Delaware’s clean-energy mandate for hyperscale data centers is moving forward, while a separate “Project Washington” proposal near Delaware City has effectively hit a dead end after the developer withdrew its appeal following new, stricter state rules. Conservation Leadership: Delaware Highlands Conservancy named Trey Talley its new executive director, effective Aug. 24, as it looks to expand land protection and education at the Van Scott Nature Reserve. Coastal Stewardship: Children’s Beach House in Lewes is renewing its campus landscape with tree removals and replanting in partnership with the city and Delaware Forest Service to support wildlife and reduce erosion. Wildlife & Habitat Science: A Chesapeake Bay study found crushed waste concrete can serve as safe oyster reef habitat, with no detectable hydrocarbon leaching—an option that could ease the shortage of natural oyster shells. Community Cleanups: Delaware County (NY) will host its 30th annual Clean Sweep chemical disposal event Oct. 9–10, with registration required. Air Quality Rulemaking: A proposed update to volatile organic compound emissions standards for consumer products aims to cut ozone pollution in the region.

Data Centers, Delaware Policy: Gov. Matt Meyer signed a clean-energy mandate for hyperscale data centers, requiring operators to build their own clean power over 10 years, add clean sources for backup power, and create a separate higher electricity rate class for hyperscale sites—plus peak-demand reduction rules to protect the grid. Local Governance, Data Centers: Delaware County townships in Pennsylvania are tightening data center zoning to address water use, noise, traffic, and site footprint, with one draft ordinance limiting locations, setting setbacks, and defining support infrastructure. Wildlife Habitat, Delaware: Children’s Beach House in Lewes is partnering with the city and Delaware Forest Service to remove declining trees and replant for safer grounds and stronger local habitat. Ocean & Weather Research, Delaware: The University of Delaware is using shark-borne CTD tags to capture hidden ocean heat that satellites miss, aiming to improve hurricane intensity forecasts for the Mid-Atlantic. Beach Safety, Sussex County: The Delaware State Beach Patrol helped Sussex County win a third straight national lifesaving championship, with dozens of top rescues and medical assists logged this summer. Storms & Flooding: Flash flooding hit the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic amid multiple rounds of storms, including heavy rain near Newark and parts of New Jersey. Invasive Species: A story revisits how the Chinese mitten crab’s first U.S. sighting in 1992 in San Francisco Bay turned into a West Coast invasion.

Clean Energy for Data Centers: Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer signed a package of laws requiring hyperscale data centers to “bring your own power” with clean energy, pay for their own infrastructure and transmission upgrades, and cut peak demand to protect the grid—aimed at stopping cost-shifting to ratepayers. Regulatory Watch: Delaware’s Environmental Appeals Board agreed to hear challenges to DNREC’s US Wind approval process, keeping the offshore wind fight alive. Coastal Safety & Wildlife: Sussex County’s Delaware State Beach Patrol won a third straight national lifesaving championship, with dozens of rescues and major medical calls during the 2026 season. Storm Impacts: Flash flooding risk is rising across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic as multiple rounds of storms dump heavy rain. Local Land & Water Quality: A federal court addressed a Clean Water Act citizen suit tied to stormwater pollution from a Pennsylvania metal fabrication facility upstream of the Delaware River. Wildlife-Friendly Yards: A guide urges Delaware residents to convert lawns into wildlife-friendly gardens to cut pollution and support habitat.

Data Center Rules: Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer signed a first-of-its-kind package tightening how large data centers operate—requiring developers to cover their own infrastructure costs, adding clean-energy “bring your own power” requirements, and boosting oversight to curb rate hikes. Health Care Access: Bayhealth is pushing Delaware regulators to slow down review of ChristianaCare’s proposed microhospital plans in Camden and Georgetown, arguing the state lacks clear definitions and licensing standards for the concept. Offshore Wind Watch: The Delaware Environmental Appeals Board will let an appeal challenging DNREC’s handling of the US Wind Offshore Maryland project move forward, rejecting DNREC’s bid to dismiss. Wildlife & Hunting: DNREC set Sept. 1 openings for deer, Canada goose, and mourning dove, alongside new hunting rules tied to Delaware’s first confirmed chronic wasting disease case—plus free testing and added restrictions. Climate Outlook: NOAA forecasts a potentially record-strong El Niño this winter, with likely impacts for East Coast storm patterns. Research & Energy: Delaware State University joins a $21.5M NSF effort on human-AI cooperation, including health care and rehab.

Wildlife & Hunting Rules: DNREC says Delaware’s 2026-27 hunting season kicks off Sept. 1, with deer (archery and crossbow) plus resident Canada goose and mourning dove, and later openings for special September teal and gray squirrel. New this year: Sunday hunting for all game species, expanded muzzleloader specs, expanded straight-walled pistol-caliber rifles, and relaxed youth hunt rules (no minimum age for special youth hunts; 16- and 17-year-olds can hunt and do target practice with parent/guardian permission and hunter education). Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD): DNREC also rolled out deer disease rules tied to the state’s first confirmed CWD case, including bans/checks and free deer testing starting Sept. 1 to help slow spread. Coastal Energy Oversight: Delaware’s Environmental Appeals Board will let a challenge to DNREC approvals for the US Wind Offshore Maryland project move forward, rejecting a bid to dismiss and keeping the dispute alive. Community Outdoors: Cub Scouts in Lewes built bird habitat boxes for a local church as part of a conservation-minded service project.

Offshore Wind Court Fight: The Delaware Environmental Appeals Board unanimously refused DNREC’s bid to dismiss a challenge to US Wind’s approval process, clearing the way for the case to move forward. Shorebird Protection at The Point: Cape Henlopen’s oceanside beach at The Point reopens Sept. 1 for beachgoers and anglers after a successful nesting season; the bayside beach stays closed until Oct. 1 to protect migrating shorebirds. Coastal Construction Line Review: A coastal building line group met Aug. 18 to discuss how dunes are protected under Delaware’s Beach Preservation Act, focusing on crossings, fencing, plantings, and construction methods. Wildlife Health Alert: Bat encounters are rising in Delaware County, with health officials urging people to treat encounters seriously due to rabies risk. Park Education Expansion: White Clay Creek State Park broke ground on the Creekside Discovery Center, aiming to expand environmental education and visitor amenities. Water Quality/Infrastructure: Scarlet Oaks in Milton applied to install sewer force mains to connect to Artesian’s recharge facility for wastewater treatment and disposal. Community Resilience Talk: The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays hosts a Citizens Café Aug. 27 on resilience efforts in the Inland Bays watershed. Energy Policy Critique: A Delaware lawmaker says the state’s nuclear energy feasibility task force report fell short on preparing for small modular reactors. Public Safety in Parks: Delaware Natural Resources Police arrested a Newark man after finding a loaded, illegally modified handgun in White Clay Creek State Park.

Wastewater & growth in Milton: Developers behind the 163-unit Scarlet Oaks in Milton applied to DNREC for sewer force main work, including pumps and lines connecting to Artesian’s Sussex Regional Recharge Facility for treatment and spray irrigation disposal. Shorebird protection at Cape Henlopen: DNREC will reopen The Point at Cape Henlopen’s oceanside beach Sept. 1, after a seasonal closure that supports threatened shorebirds; this year added new least tern nesting exclosures, boosting nests to about 150. New marine habitat for Delaware: DNREC sank a retired 180-foot menhaden vessel off Sussex County to expand the Del-Jersey-Land Reef, after EPA and Coast Guard approvals. Mosquito control downstate: DNREC plans evening mosquito spraying Monday in areas near Laurel/Greenwood and around Delmar, Bethel, Seaford and Bridgeville. Climate research in the Atlantic: A Mississippi State professor and Ph.D. student, including UD researchers, join a deep-sea expedition to study methane emissions from the Atlantic seafloor. Education & community resilience: The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays hosts a Citizens Café Aug. 27 on resilience in the Inland Bays watershed, featuring DNREC climate and sustainability leadership. School safety reminder: A Delaware School Safety Center op-ed stresses safety as a shared responsibility as the school year starts.

DNREC & State Parks: Delaware broke ground on the Creekside Discovery Center and a bridge replacement at White Clay Creek State Park, a roughly $13.4M project aimed at boosting environmental education space and visitor access, with completion targeted for 2028. Wildlife & Marine Habitat: DNREC also sank a retired 180-foot menhaden vessel to expand the Del-Jersey-Land artificial reef off Delaware, after remediation and federal approvals, adding new habitat and a fresh use for old maritime infrastructure. Public Health & Mosquito Control: DNREC plans downstate mosquito spraying Monday evening using EPA-registered insecticides, with specific spray zones listed for communities near Laurel/Greenwood and Delmar/Bethel/Seaford/Bridgeville. Water Quality: A Pennsylvania report found E. coli from fecal matter at potentially unsafe levels in many river and stream monitoring sites, including frequent high readings along parts of the Delaware River. Climate/Extreme Weather: Severe storms and tornadoes hit the Northeast and also caused major damage in southwestern France, with injuries and widespread power outages reported. Policy Watch: Delaware’s SB 23 housing debate continues, with critics warning faster approvals may not guarantee affordability for working residents.