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Tri-State Infrastructure News Network original article
New Jersey’s electricity ratepayers have experienced significant financial strain, with double-digit rate increases announced in February 2025, projected to range from 17.23% to 20.20% for June and further hikes expected after the July PJM capacity auctions. These increases, coupled with higher usage during heat waves, have created an urgent energy affordability crisis. Addressing this challenge will be a top priority for New Jersey’s next governor.
New Jersey is importing 35% of its electricity, making the state vulnerable to regional grid constraints and wholesale auction price spikes. This vulnerable position places energy policy at the forefront of the 2025 gubernatorial race between Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill, making the election a referendum on New Jersey’s energy future.
This article analyzes the candidates’ energy policies and energy records.
Mikie Sherrill: Championing a Clean Energy Transition
Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill’s energy platform centers on the national Democratic stance that climate change requires urgent action via a rapid transition to renewable energy.
Sherrill promotes expanding New Jersey’s solar capacity and introduced the “RAISE the Roof Act” in Congress to broaden the solar investment tax credit to include integrated solar roofs.
Despite major setbacks, Sherrill continues to see offshore wind as essential to New Jersey’s renewable energy leadership.
Details of Sherrill’s position on nuclear energy are not included in this summary; however, her energy platform primarily focuses on renewables and the transition away from fossil fuels.
Sherrill’s natural gas policy centers on reducing methane emissions from existing infrastructure, highlighted by her 2021 “Mitigate Methane Now Act,” which aims to replace aging gas lines and shield low-income consumers from related rate hikes through state grants.
In her June op-ed, Congresswoman Sherrill advocated for increasing and accelerating the deployment of electric vehicle chargers to support the transition to electric vehicles. She backed the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which provided funding for EV charging stations in the state.
Sherrill opposes recent utility rate increases, warning they could drive businesses out of state. Her main approach to lowering costs is to add more clean energy to the grid and speed up the process for bringing these sources online, while also holding the regional grid operator, PJM, accountable for delays.
Jack Ciattarelli: A Balanced, All-of-the-Above Approach
Supports an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, advocating for a new Energy Master Plan that balances various energy sources. He acknowledges the reality of climate change but criticizes Governor Murphy’s clean energy initiatives as overly ambitious and rapid.
Ciattarelli’s stance on renewable energy is complex. While he acknowledges the need for more solar energy, he criticizes federal subsidies for wind and solar, describing them as costly and unreliable.
Champions nuclear power for its zero-carbon benefits and significant role in New Jersey’s energy mix, promoting new “micro nuclear” technologies—a notable change from his 2017 opposition to nuclear subsidies due to concerns over incentives for other renewables.
Supports expanding the use of natural gas as a transitional energy source to boost supply and reduce costs, advocating for its role alongside renewables and nuclear until clean energy becomes more practical and affordable.
In an 2023 op-ed published in the Asbury Park Press, Ciattarelli said the government incentives being used to drive the mandate forward are “insulting and unfair” to working-class people. In May of 2025 Mr. Ciattarelli posted on his social media accounts that he would eliminate the electric vehicle mandates on day one of his administration.
His energy affordability plan centers on repealing what he calls costly state mandates for electric vehicles, appliances, and home construction, which he believes drive up expenses for residents, especially the working and middle class. He also pledges to reform the NJBPU to speed up energy project approvals.
READ THEIR SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON
The energy policy plans of Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli both recognize New Jersey’s rising energy costs and the importance of a reliable power supply, but they differ sharply on how quickly and by what methods the state should change its energy mix. Their opposing approaches will shape New Jersey’s future strategies for balancing energy security, affordability, and environmental goals, as the state faces challenges from high electricity rates and dependence on imported power.
The New Jersey gubernatorial race offers voters a clear choice on energy policy: Sherrill advocates for a swift shift to 100% clean energy with investments in renewables and support for nuclear power, while Ciattarelli favors a gradual transition that maintains current use of natural gas and nuclear to prioritize affordability and reliability.
The upcoming governor will face mounting pressure to address rising electricity rates and ensure energy security. The 2025 gubernatorial race will determine whether New Jersey doubles down on a clean energy future or pursues alternative strategies for stabilizing rates and securing its energy supply.
Original Tri-State Infrastructure News Network Story
