Murphy’s new plan: ban non-electric car sales by 2035

Our friend Dr. Jonathan Lesser said it all in his recent opinion piece, Save Jerseyans: “New Jersey’s ‘new’ Energy Master Plan will be as unrealistic as the previous one.

Sure enough, just two days later, Governor Murphy proved Dr. Lesser correct by dropping a new proposal which includes the more ambitious goal of a carbon neutral Garden State by 2035 instead of 2050. You won’t be able to purchase a non-electric car in-state by 2035. In the next 12 years, natural gas would be phased out under this latest scheme notwithstanding the fact that 85% of New Jersey homes utilize natural gas.

“These bold targets and carefully crafted initiatives signal our unequivocal commitment to swift and concrete climate action today,” said Governor Murphy. “We’ve turned our vision for a greener tomorrow into a responsible and actionable roadmap to guide us, and it’s through that pragmatic, evidence-based approach that we will ultimately arrive at our destination. Combined with our federal partnerships reinforced through the Inflation Reduction Act, these comprehensive initiatives will better protect and prepare every New Jersey community, including those on the front lines of climate change who have previously been left out and left behind.” 

The original plan was estimated to cost $1.4 trillion. Any guess what this one might run us?

“Governor Murphy’s original goal of forcing New Jersey to go all electric by 2050 was unrealistic at best, but his new 2035 target is nuts,” said state Senator Anthony Bucco (R-25). “If the cost of his extreme energy plan was $1.4 trillion before, I can’t even imagine what it’ll cost to convert in less than half the time. It’ll be an absolutely astronomical financial burden for homeowners, businesses, and taxpayers.”

Of course, there’s zero chance New Jersey will be 100% electric in 2035. Murphy knows it. He’s hoping to run for president at some point in the next 12 years, and at that point it won’t matter whether New Jersey is on target or decades away.

Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8405 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.