New analysis finds repealing key clean energy policies would jack up household costs and worsen the state’s affordability crisis

A new independent analysis from the nonpartisan group Greenline Insights reveals that household expenses for New Jersey families would jump by an average of $850 per year if the state adopts policies consistent with Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli’s proposals to roll back key clean energy policies. The report examined the impacts of four proposed policy changes—repealing electric vehicle standards, removing appliance efficiency standards, banning new offshore wind development, and withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative—and assessed their combined effect on transportation and energy costs through 2050.

Read the complete analysis from Greenline Insights here.

According to the findings, eliminating these policies would cost the average household more than $21,000 cumulatively by 2050, adding up to roughly $75 billion in higher costs statewide. The analysis concludes that these policies are already helping families save on utility and transportation expenses, and reversing them would wipe out those savings, driving up costs as soon as next year.

In response, Evergreen Action States Vice President Justin Balik released the following statement:

“The facts are clear. By dismantling the clean energy policies that are saving New Jersey families, Jack Ciattarelli’s plan would hit working people with an $850 annual backdoor energy tax. Energy prices in New Jersey have risen because PJM allows utilities to rake in record profits instead of fixing the grid and delivering affordable, reliable power. Rolling back clean energy progress would only deepen the corporate greed-fueled affordability crisis by making it even more expensive to power homes, fuel cars, and keep the lights on. 

“New Jersey families deserve better. While Ciattarelli’s plan would raise costs and protect entrenched interests, Mikie Sherrill’s approach would take on PJM’s broken system and invest in homegrown clean energy that lowers prices and strengthens the grid. The way forward is clear: New Jersey must double down on clean, affordable energy—not pull the plug on it.”

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Paid for by Evergreen Action, 1250 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036. This expenditure was not made with the cooperation or prior consent of, or in consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate, or person or committee acting on behalf of the candidate.