New Jersey Lawmakers Take on Rising Energy Costs with Landmark Legislative Package

Today, alongside the FY 2027 budget, New Jersey state legislators passed a package of bills focused on energy affordability and lowering costs for families. Legislators in Trenton took bold action to address data center power use with a first- of- its- kind tariff that incentivizes Bring Your Own New Clean Energy, expands clean energy deployment and strengthens utility oversight. In response, Evergreen Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Director Eric Miller released the following statement:

“New Jersey legislators have answered Governor Sherrill’s call to action with bold, meaningful legislation that will lower costs for families across the state. From reining in data center costs to expanding community solar and transmission projects, we’re grateful state leaders are taking steps to slow rising energy bills and ensure data centers bear the costs of their growing energy demand. 

We commend lead sponsors Assemblymembers Miller, DeAngelo, Venezia, Katz, and Bailey ., and Senators Burzichelli, Ruiz, Smith, McKeon, and Zwicker for their leadership in Trenton. Their work today positions New Jersey as a national model for meeting this moment and taking energy affordability seriously.” 

Legislation passed today:

• A5188/S4411 – Requires state regulator approval of supplemental transmission projects and incentivizes the use of advanced transmission technologies.
• A4881/S4296 – Directs the Board of Public Utilities to secure at least 1,100MW of advanced nuclear power.
• A2757/S1673 – Requires transmission owners to join PJM, immediately delivering $60 million a year in savings to ratepayers.
• A4096/S3379 – Advances transparency and accountability around data center development by requiring water and energy reporting to the Board of Public Utilities
• A8796/S731 – Creates a data center tariff that protects consumers, requiring utilities to develop the tariff in a manner that incentivizes Bring Your Own New Clean Energy, and advances community power by incentivizing and requiring a mechanism for customer- owned generation to be paid for by data centers.

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