New Jersey should reject costly experimental policies and instead adopt an all-of-the-above energy strategy to lower costs, attract investment, and avoid the buyer’s remorse seen in states pursuing renewable-only mandates.
If there is a single issue that will define 2026 for New Jersey families, it is the rising cost of everyday necessities. According to a recent survey by Upswing Research & Strategy, for more than half of voters across our state, energy prices are one of the two clearest, most persistent pressures people feel. Energy was a major issue in the recent gubernatorial campaign and one that Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill and lawmakers in Trenton will need to confront head-on.
New Jersey must take an opportunity to reset on energy costs
With new leadership, New Jersey has an opportunity to reset and define a better path to bringing down energy costs. That should start with rejecting heavy-handed policies like one modeled after New York’s experimental climate “superfund” law, which assesses exorbitant new fees on companies that would just get passed down to consumers. It may generate headlines, but it does not lower prices for families, and it sends a chilling signal to employers and anyone considering investing in New Jersey.
Instead, a more constructive conversation begins with recognizing the energy sources that have delivered real emissions reductions and affordability gains. Many states have misguidedly dismissed natural gas, but it has helped drive down U.S. emissions more than any other fuel shift over the last two decades, and it continues to play an essential role in stabilizing grids as demand increases.
Ignoring these facts does not advance environmental climate goals. It simply forces consumers to pay more while pushing new investment out of state. A policy framework that sidelines natural gas is not grounded in science or economics; it is rooted in political symbolism that leaves families and businesses footing the bill.
The region is already seeing buyer’s remorse from states that pursued experimental renewable-only goals without considering affordability or feasibility. Massachusetts is having second thoughts about its aggressive mandates because costs and timelines have spiraled. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul too has welcomed new natural gas pipelines because having all energy sources available makes our grid more reliable and brings down costs. These are cautionary tales for New Jersey.
New Jersey must consider all technologies
Some have treated electricity generation sources as an either/or, when in reality New Jersey can distinguish itself by embracing generation from every source. Renewable technologies will continue to grow but the Garden State also needs to consider all technologies that will help the state meet its environmental goals while keeping the lights on at a price people can afford.
New Jersey has always been a state driven by innovation and practicality, not ideology. An all-of-the-above strategy strengthens energy security, attracts investment and positions New Jersey as a destination for good-paying jobs. Punitive measures do nothing to ease the burden on customers. They simply stifle investment, make modernizing the grid more expensive and push new projects and new jobs elsewhere. New Jersey should reject that framework.
Throughout the campaign, Sherrill emphasized energy affordability as a top priority. That commitment should guide the state’s energy agenda. Policymakers should start fresh and create a level playing field for every energy source that can bring down prices. When New Jersey keeps its energy policy grounded in consumer needs and economic reality, everyone benefits.
New Jersey can lead in a different way and can show that environmental responsibility and affordability can coexist while building a policy framework that invites innovation instead of punishing it. That will give families confidence that energy will remain reliable and reasonably priced in the years ahead.
That should be the goal for 2026 and beyond. New Jersey has the chance to get this right. For Mikie Sherrill to keep her promise, now is the time to choose a path that strengthens the economy, protects the environment and rejects the costly experiments unfolding across state lines.
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