Jack Ciattarelli, a candidate for Governor of New Jersey, said that recent electricity rate hikes are the result of state renewable energy policies. He called for leadership that prioritizes cost-effective and reliable power. The statement was made on X.
“Last week it was the Democratic governor of Pennsylvania, This week it’s the Governor of Virginia,” said Ciattarelli. “Both of whom support cost-effective, reliable electricity production. And then there’s Mikie Sherrill, who lied to New Jerseyans again yesterday. Our energy bills have nothing to do with the budget bill in DC.”
New Jersey’s energy policy mandates 100% clean electricity by 2035 and includes major renewable targets. According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and Reuters, these requirements, along with rising PJM grid costs, have driven rates sharply higher. This has sparked consumer pushback and renewed debate over affordability and reliability.
Inside Climate News and data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicate that New Jersey residential electricity rates rose nearly 20% in 2025. This increase added about $20 per month for the average customer, placing the state among the highest in the Mid-Atlantic compared to neighboring states.
According to EIA and state sources, New Jersey’s 2024 generation mix was composed of 49.6% natural gas, 45% nuclear, and 2.9% solar energy. The state has installed over 4,700 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity and is targeting offshore wind projects totaling 11,000 MW by 2040. These developments highlight growth in renewable capacity but show limited reliability gains so far.
Ciattarelli, an accountant and Republican who served in the New Jersey Assembly from 2011 to 2018 and ran for governor in both 2021 and 2025, is a vocal critic of aggressive clean energy mandates. He favors a slower transition while emphasizing affordability and reliability according to his public statements.
