TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy’s plan to eliminate natural gas and transition to green energy in New Jersey is facing criticism for its lack of public notice and transparency, according to Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco.
Bucco argues that the governor is attempting to bypass the Legislature by implementing his costly and extreme green energy plan without proper review and consideration. He claims that Governor Murphy is rushing the plan through the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) regulatory process to limit public input.
The BPU issued a preliminary road map for electrifying all homes and businesses in the state on June 7. Bucco expressed concerns about the lack of information regarding the cost and mandates required to convert the majority of New Jersey homes currently using natural gas for heating, cooking, and hot water.
The public comment period for the plan ended on June 27, and the BPU is scheduled to adopt the proposal on July 12. Bucco criticizes the Murphy administration for implementing significant policy changes without allowing for adequate time and input from the public and elected legislators.
Governor Murphy has not disclosed the full cost of his green energy plan, but an independent estimate puts it at $1.4 trillion for New Jersey residents.
In response to these concerns, Bucco introduced the “Energy Security and Affordability Act” to address the governor’s energy plan and require the BPU to consider energy security, diversity, affordability, and conduct an economic and ratepayer impact analysis.
However, the Republican effort to bring the bill for a vote by the full Senate was blocked by Democrats on June 21.
Bucco argues that Governor Murphy and Trenton Democrats should prioritize lowering energy bills and ensuring affordability for New Jersey ratepayers. He emphasizes the importance of open and public legislative hearings to allow for meaningful public input on these proposals.