(a) There is hereby established the State Energy Office within the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy.
(b) The Director of the Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy is the administrator and head of the State Energy Office and is the State Energy Coordinator, who shall:
(1) Be qualified by training or experience to perform the duties of the Office; and
(2) Perform such functions in the administration of the State Energy Office as the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control may from time to time require.
(c) The State Energy Office shall:
(1) Act as a central repository and clearinghouse for collection and dissemination of data and information on energy resources and energy matters in the State, including but not limited to:
a. Data on energy supply, demand, costs, projections and forecasts;
b. Inventory data on energy research and development projects, studies, or other programs conducted in the State under public or private supervision or sponsorship, and the results thereof; and
c. The environmental impacts of energy generation and use and the means of reducing those impacts through alternative fuels, innovative energy technologies, conservation or other means.
(2) Coordinate and partner with other state, local, regional, and federal agencies, including the Delaware Public Service Commission, the Division of the Public Advocate, the Office of State Planning and Coordination, the Office of Management and Budget, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Transportation, and the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility, and energy-related boards and councils, energy utilities, and other stakeholders in carrying out its duties under this subchapter;
(3) Recommend legislative or other initiatives to the Secretary, and hence to the Governor and General Assembly, that will enable or assist the State, its instrumentalities, its energy utilities, and private citizens, to secure federal funds made available to states, energy utilities, and individuals to support energy conservation, energy efficiency, emerging energy technologies, energy storage, demand response, microgrids, energy workforce development, grid resiliency and development, and renewable energy and decarbonization programs and initiatives, whatever form those funds take;
(4) Provide for a program of energy audits of facilities owned by instrumentalities of the State in cooperation with designated representatives of said facilities;
(5) Provide for the training and certification of energy auditors to conduct energy audits as may be necessary and proper to carry out the purposes and policies of this subchapter, or any other energy-related law applicable to this State;
(6) Assist the Division of Facilities Management in developing the state facilities energy management plan as required in § 8806(c) of Title 29 [repealed]; and
(7) Develop and update, at least every 5 years, a comprehensive State Energy Plan designed to protect the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and economy of the State consistent with the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, as specified in § 10003 of Title 7, and the State’s Climate Action Plan issued pursuant to § 10004 of Title 7, support the State’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, and support implementation of the State’s Climate Action Plan. The State Energy Plan shall include:
a. Encouraging and promoting conservation of energy through reducing wasteful, uneconomical or inefficient uses of energy;
b. Encouraging and promoting the use of renewable electric generation facilities and alternate energy technologies by residential and commercial consumers;
c. Encouraging and promoting such other energy efficiencies and conservation goals, methods, standards, training, programs and policies that are consistent with the intent of this subchapter, especially those directed toward improving end-use efficiency among the State’s energy consumers; and
d. Encouraging and promoting equity in energy planning and development in accordance with the Plans.
(8) Provide technical and administrative support to the Governor’s Energy Advisory Council as provided for in § 8055(i) of this title;
(9) Serve as a liaison between the State and federal agencies and energy agencies in other states and regions on the energy program and policy matters set forth in this subchapter;
(10) Monitor and act in a coordinating capacity to promote the planning and buildout of the statewide energy grid to optimize resources, including coordination with any plan acknowledged by the Public Service Commission;
(11) Conduct analysis of generating resource adequacy and conduct integrated resource planning, as necessary;
(12) Develop and conduct the solicitation or solicitations for the procurement of electric energy from offshore wind, as set forth in § 8056 of this title, and participate in offshore wind transmission planning with the regional transmission organization, the Delaware Public Service Commission, the Division of the Public Advocate, energy utilities, other stakeholders, and other states.
(13) Conduct analysis, study policy options, and collaborate with energy utilities and other stakeholders to make recommendations to facilitate the responsible siting of renewable energy facilities in Delaware;
(14) Provide public information and convene stakeholder meetings when necessary to implement the purposes of this subchapter; and
(15) Acting through the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Control, have the authority to intervene as a party in dockets before the Public Service Commission by filing a petition to intervene stating its interest in the docket. Such intervention shall be limited to matters arising directly from the matters enumerated in subchapter II of this chapter. Should the Commission grant the petition, the Department shall be deemed a party in interest and shall have full power to present evidence, subpoena and cross-examine witnesses, submit proof, file briefs, appeal and take any other action appropriate for a party in a Commission docket.