Delaware Adopting California Regulations to Ban the Sale of New Gasoline, Diesel-Fueled Vehicles

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is hosting a virtual workshop on the adoption of California’s Advanced Clean Car II standards that seek to restrict, and later ban, the sale of new cars, trucks, and SUVs powered by gasoline and diesel.

In March, Gov. John Carney directed DNREC to begin the process of promulgating the California regulations in Delaware, which include zero-emission vehicle (electric) standards.

The next workshop will be held this evening:

• Thursday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. Register

Under the regulations Delaware is adopting, the sale of traditionally fueled light-duty passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs will be rapidly scaled down starting in three years, culminating with a total ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles in model year 2035. 

State Rep. Danny Short opposes restricting Delawareans' new car buying options solely to electric vehicles (EVs). He maintains the government's actions are ill-considered because of huge unresolved EV problems that include the inability of the power grid to support mass recharging, limited vehicle range, comparatively long recharge times, challenges associated with battery manufacturing and disposal, high battery replacement costs, and negative impacts on the affordability of new and used vehicles.

For more information about the adoption of California’s Advanced Clean Car II regulations, visit DNREC’s Division of Air Quality webpage.

Delaware environmental officials have indicated they plan to publish a "Statewide EV Roadmap" in January.

Keeping a Tradition Alive:

Rep. Short Rides in Return Day Parade

Helping to keep alive a tradition believed to be more than 200 years old, State Rep. Danny Short and his family took part in the 2022 Return Day festivities in Georgetown last Thursday.

Held two days following the general election in the county seat, the event initially began as a way to give residents an opportunity to learn the results of the voting.

Unique in the U.S., Return Day features a parade and a ceremonial "burying of the hatchet," symbolizing an end to the animosity of the political campaigns.

Having won re-election, Danny Short remains the state representative for the 39th District until November 2024. An official swearing-in of all the lawmakers elected to serve in the new 152nd General Assembly will take place in early January, when the legislature meets for the first time.

NEWS FROM THE CITY OF SEAFORD:

2022 Seaford Christmas Parade

State Officials Relaunch Online Recycling Tool

Instant Recycling Information, Waste Disposal Help

In recognition of America Recycles Day (November 15), the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) yesterday relaunched an improved online resource to help Delawareans determine what is acceptable for recycling.

Recyclopedia aids users to manage their refuse, whether by recycling or proper disposal.

The web-based application at de.gov/recyclopedia offers an easy-to-navigate, pictorial guide for more than 375 common items – providing an instant response on how and where these items can be most efficiently recycled or disposed of and directing app users to the nearest locations for either action. The tool also allows users to search for an item by name.

“One of our continuing challenges in improving the recycling rate in Delaware is the uncertainty about where, what, and how to recycle," said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. "The new state-specific Recyclopedia helps us meet that challenge."