Garden State Times

John Azzaritti, an Assemblyman from New Jersey, said that the state's electrical infrastructure is not yet prepared to support the regulations in the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) program. He expressed his opposition to such electric vehicle (EV) mandates during an interview on April 3.

"I strongly oppose the EV mandates being proposed in New Jersey," said John Azaritti. "Our electrical infrastructure is nowhere near ready to support such a sweeping policy, and our constituents are nowhere near ready to pay for it. Our constituents have made it clear: they do not support this mandate, and neither do I."

In November 2022, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced plans to adopt the ACC II regulations, which aim to phase out the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. This initiative seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote EV adoption across the state. However, according to Rutgers, New Jersey's current electrical infrastructure is insufficient for this transition, raising concerns among constituents about the financial implications of the mandate.

A report from 2022 by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities highlighted the need for significant upgrades to the state's electrical grid to support increased EV adoption. The study emphasized that modernizing the grid is crucial for handling additional loads from EV charging and maintaining reliability. It also noted that improvements might be necessary in current interconnection processes to facilitate these upgrades.

According to The Asbury Park Press, in February, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved electricity rate increases for several utility companies. Customers of Jersey Central Power & Light are set to see a 20.2% increase, while those with Public Service Electric & Gas will face a 17.24% hike. These increases are attributed to higher energy supply costs and infrastructure investments.

Azzaritti is a physician anesthesiologist who has practiced at The Valley Hospital in northern New Jersey since 1996, serving as associate director of the anesthesiology department and president of his anesthesiology group. He earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry and economics from Case Western Reserve University in 1988 and a medical doctorate from UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School in 1992. According to NJ Assembly GOP, Azzaritti was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly for the 39th legislative district, taking office in January 2024.