New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has announced a plan to ban the sale of gasoline-powered cars and light-duty trucks in the state by 2035, with the goal of converting all energy needs to electric and powered by clean energy such as solar and wind. The announcement comes as part of an executive order that creates an accelerated target of 100% clean energy by 2035. The ban is similar to one recently implemented in California. Governor Murphy cited global warming as the motivating factor behind the order, saying that traditional methods of energy production that rely on burning fossil fuels release harmful emissions of greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change.
The executive order will not affect heavy diesel-based commercial vehicles or the governor’s new fleet of gas-guzzling large SUVs. However, the order also hints that the governor is not done banning fossil fuel power systems and appliances across businesses and homes in New Jersey. The new clean energy acceleration goal is expected to target fossil fuel-based home heating systems and gas-powered appliances such as stoves, water heaters, grills, swimming pools, and other gas-powered devices in a home.
“Governor Murphy’s green energy plan is extreme, expensive, and totally unrealistic,” said Senator Steven Oroho (R-24). “It seems the governor was serious when he said he wants to turn New Jersey into the California of the East Coast. Somebody should tell him that’s not a good thing when people and businesses are fleeing California in droves as the Golden State declines under liberal policy failures.”
Governor Murphy signed the executive order unilaterally without a vote in the state senate or legislature. The order is part of his commitment to swift and concrete climate action, which he says 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.
“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,” Senator Anthony Bucco said. “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.”
While the ban is not set to take effect for ten-plus years, Governor Murphy recently upgraded his own fleet of gas-guzzling Chevrolet Suburbans using COVID-19 earmarked funds.
According to the governor, New Jersey residents will be switching to 100% clean energy by 2035 whether they want to or not.