Garden State Times

In a recent statement, Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco addressed claims made by Trenton Democrats about rising energy costs, asserting that the responsibility should not fall solely on PJM Interconnection.

Responding to the Democrats' narrative, Bucco contended, "Don't be misled by the claims from Trenton Democrats that PJM is solely to blame for soaring energy costs." He attributed the core of the issue to the current energy policies, suggesting that unless these policies change, the state would not be able to introduce new energy sources quickly enough to reduce costs.

Bucco elaborated on the challenges investors face, highlighting that, "No investor is going to commit to traditional energy solutions in New Jersey with its hostile permitting and unrealistic mandates for full electrification by 2035."

He further criticized the timing and effectiveness of the state's renewable energy plans, stating, "The current solar and wind plans won’t be implemented quickly enough, and even when they are, they won’t meet demand." Under Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan, Bucco argued, New Jersey would increasingly depend on the grid, driving up energy prices and forcing reliance on less environmentally friendly sources.

Bucco concluded that this approach was unsustainable and ineffective, saying, "This approach is simply unsustainable, the results are predictable, and the policy has never made sense."