New Jersey is in an energy crisis.
Electricity prices have been rising in states across the country, but in New Jersey, which was already home to some of the highest electricity prices, we’ve seen bills go up faster than just about anywhere else.
Working families are feeling this crisis month after month when choosing between keeping the lights on or buying groceries.
Luckily, we have a governor who recognizes the gravity of this problem and the importance of solving it. On her first day in office, Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a set of executive orders to lower electricity bills and expand clean energy generation right here at home.
That is critical because currently, we aren’t building enough new sources of power to keep up as demand for electricity is skyrocketing.
New Jersey imports much of its power, which makes our state more vulnerable to price volatility. And, it means that we’re missing out on tons of jobs that would otherwise be created in communities throughout our state.
If we want to bring down energy bills, create good union jobs, and tackle the climate crisis — all at once — we need to build more clean energy here in New Jersey.
Labor unions in our state have a clear plan to do just that, and to deliver on Gov. Sherrill’s vision for affordable, clean energy. We are bringing a bold policy agenda to Trenton this year, including:
– Launching a statewide program to quickly deploy vast amounts of rooftop solar and energy storage. With limited open space in a state as dense as ours, utilizing these smaller-scale energy sources will help New Jersey quickly meet rising energy demand and do so in a way that creates new union jobs.
– Taking back control of our energy system by putting the state in charge of planning and purchasing energy. This will allow New Jersey to actually plan for our energy needs and develop in-state clean energy generation, and it gives us the power to ensure our local workers benefit from every new project.
To move this agenda forward, unions came together to launch Climate Jobs New Jersey, a coalition of nine labor unions united to power New Jersey’s clean energy economy with union jobs and tackle the energy affordability crisis with a plan that works for every working family.
Our work won’t stop after 2026. We also developed a roadmap with Cornell University’s Climate Jobs Institute that offers a long-term plan and science-backed recommendations aimed at building a clean energy economy, creating good union jobs, advancing affordability and equity, and tackling the climate crisis.
New Jersey’s energy crisis has plagued us for too long, but it offers an opportunity: to solve it in ways that combat climate change, create good union jobs in our state, and lead to a whole host of economic benefits for our local communities – leaving our state stronger than ever. With thousands of union workers ready to build our clean energy future, and an energy leader in the Governor’s office, we can make these opportunities a reality.
This is our moment to put our state on the right track by building our own clean energy in New Jersey, by New Jerseyans. Labor’s vision promises to bring economic prosperity, lifelong union careers, and a healthier environment to our communities for years to come.
For 90 years, when Americans have driven through our state, they’ve seen that famous slogan: “Trenton Makes, The World Takes.”
But when it comes to energy, we’ve lost our way. It’s time to start making our own energy again and bring New Jersey jobs to New Jersey families.
Charles Wowkanech is the president of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.
Greg Lalevee is the Business Manager of Local 825, International Union of Operating Engineers.
Michael Hellstrum is the Vice President & Eastern Regional Manager, Laborers International Union of North America.
This guest article first appeared in the NJ Star Ledger
