BEDMINSTER, NJ — State Senator Doug Steinhardt (R-23) is urging immediate legislative action following reports that unauthorized communication devices, potentially linked to the Chinese Communist Party, were found embedded in solar power inverters manufactured in China.
This comes one day after New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy pivoted from failed wind energy to solar energy in an effort to solve the crisis he created with the offshore wind energy crisis.
In a statement released Wednesday, Steinhardt criticized New Jersey leadership for what he called a failure to safeguard critical infrastructure. “The recent discovery of rogue communication devices underscores a chilling reality: our critical infrastructure is vulnerable, and New Jersey’s leadership is asleep at the wheel,” Steinhardt said.
He warned that the discovery reveals more than economic risk, framing the issue as a significant threat to national security. “This is no longer a hypothetical danger,” he added. “We are now seeing tangible evidence that surveillance tools from adversarial nations are operating undetected in systems that power our homes and communities.”
The devices, reportedly found in Chinese-manufactured solar equipment, have raised concerns over possible covert surveillance capabilities embedded within energy infrastructure. The senator did not specify the source of the discovery but emphasized the urgency of state-level protections.
Senator renews push for legislative safeguards
Steinhardt is pressing for the passage of several bills he sponsors that would limit foreign access to New Jersey infrastructure and land. Among them, S-728 prohibits state agencies from using technology tied to foreign adversaries, while S-731 bars such entities from participating in critical infrastructure projects.
He also pointed to legislation restricting foreign ownership of agricultural land (S-723) and protected land near military facilities (S-3591), all aimed at reducing state vulnerability to foreign influence.
“I am calling on [Governor] Murphy and Trenton Democrats to immediately pass my legislation to ban foreign adversaries from any access to New Jersey’s infrastructure and technology,” Steinhardt said.