The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation (DEMEC), alongside the Town of Middletown, Delaware, celebrated the official ribbon cutting of Delaware’s first floating solar facility, marking a significant milestone in the state’s energy future, DEMEC reported on Aug. 3.
Federal, state, and local officials joined DEMEC Board members, utility leaders, project partners, and community members to commemorate the completion of the innovative three (3) megawatt floating solar project consisting of over 5,000 panels across 6 acres located on a 14-acre wastewater treatment pond.
As the first floating solar installation in Delaware and one of the five largest floating solar facilities on the East Coast, the project demonstrates how public power communities can work together to develop creative energy solutions that strengthen reliability, diversify local energy resources, and provide long-term value for customers.
“This project demonstrates what is possible when public power communities can innovate through local decision-making,” said Kimberly Schlichting, DEMEC President & CEO. “The DEMEC/Middletown Floating Solar Facility is an example of how we can deliver meaningful value to our members and their customers while expanding the diverse energy resources needed to serve customers today and into the future.”
DEMEC Board Chair and Town of Middletown Town Manager Morris Deputy emphasized the collaboration that brought the project from concept to completion. “For nearly ten years, DEMEC and the Town of Middletown worked together to transform a vision into reality,” said Deputy. “We are proud to celebrate an achievement that not only benefits Middletown but serves as a model for communities across the nation.”
Included among the attendees at the event was U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.).
The project is the result of nearly a decade of collaboration between DEMEC and the Town of Middletown.
The final design was made possible through the combined efforts of DEMEC’s member communities, local contractors, and strategic project partners, including D3 Energy, Gardner Capital, and American Municipal Power.
Federal tax incentives, secured through proactive planning, helped reduce project costs, while supporting local labor and economic growth throughout Middletown.
The project also received a $125,000 Demonstration of Energy & Efficiency Developments (DEED) grant from the American Public Power Association. The grant will fund a case study documenting the project so other public power communities across the country can explore similar opportunities.
APPA's DEED program funds research, pilot projects, and education to improve the operations and services of public power utilities.
In addition to expanding Delaware’s renewable energy portfolio, the floating solar facility makes productive use of existing infrastructure by generating clean electricity while preserving open land, demonstrating another innovative approach to meeting evolving energy needs, DEMEC said.
"The event reflected the enduring value of partnerships that strengthen communities and DEMEC’s continuous pursuit of forward-looking energy solutions that balance reliability, affordability, and sustainability," DEMEC said.
DEMEC is Delaware’s only not-for-profit joint action agency, providing wholesale power supply, energy services, and strategic support to its nine municipal electric utility members. Together, DEMEC’s members are committed to delivering reliable, affordable, and sustainable public power to the communities they serve.
