By Dawn Fantasia
In Governor Sherrill’s mammoth $60.7B budget address, she briefly referenced natural gas and nuclear energy. That was welcome! But the rest of the speech followed the “green energy” fairy tale trajectory of her predecessor, with an emphasis on investing in solar energy and battery storage.
Here’s the problem: solar and battery storage are SUPPLEMENTS, not primary power sources. Solar works when the sun shines, but the grid needs power 24/7. Batteries don’t generate electricity; they store excess solar for a few hours and cost billions to build. Most store 2–4 hours of power. The next generation aims for 6–10 hours. A 24-hour battery grid is still theoretical at scale.
Let’s compare power reliability rates:
Solar — about 8%
Offshore wind — 40–50%
Natural gas — 80%+
Nuclear — up to 95%
Meanwhile, PJM (the regional grid operator) warned us that by 2030, the region could lose about 40 gigawatts of reliable power generation (while replacing less than half of it). NJ ALREADY lost $175M on the Ørsted offshore wind gamble, and the kicker is that even at full capacity, that project too would have delivered well under 20 gigawatts upon completion- less than half the power NJ actually needs.
So how’d we get here in the first place? NJ used to be an energy EXPORTER. Well, Trenton Democrats shuttered reliable power before replacements existed, so now NJ IMPORTS 35–40% of our electricity from states in our regional grid. The Democrats pat themselves on the back for being “green,” while importing electricity from PA generated with much-needed fossil fuels, including coal.
It gets more surreal. Now the same Dems are blaming and threatening to leave PJM. We’re importing power and acting like we hold the cards. We sure don’t- just ask Pennsylvania.
And “green”? Grid batteries rely on lithium, cobalt, nickel and other mined minerals, produced through massive industrial extraction & chemical processing. They’re ridiculously expensive to build and a disposal nightmare. Is this what they call environmentally-friendly “green energy”?
Now look at the budget shell game. The budget highlights spending tied to the Clean Energy Fund ($700M a year) and RGGI (roughly $80–100M annually). But those funds don’t come from Trenton. They come from YOU — surcharges you already pay for, built into your electric bill.
(Don’t forget! Over the years, billions of dollars have been diverted out of the Clean Energy Fund to plug other holes in the state budget.)
THE GAME IN THE NUTSHELL: Raise your rates. Collect the money through RGGI and Clean Energy Fund charges. Hand a sliver back as a “utility credit.” Smile and hold a press conference.
As the governor and Majority party celebrate “clean energy” budget spending, understand that most of it is just recycling money you’ve paid in your electric bill. This budget proposal is STILL gambling on “green energy.” With your wallet.
SIDEBAR: During the campaign, Mikie Sherrill promised to “freeze electric rates.” Fun fact: as governor, her Executive Order didn’t freeze anything. It “urged” the Board of Public Utilities to “consider” taking action. A far cry from freezing rates.
