TRENTON, NJ – Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill has tapped U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm to co-chair her “Making Energy More Affordable and Reliable” Action Team, signaling that offshore wind and renewable infrastructure will play a central role in New Jersey’s economic and environmental agenda.
Granholm, a longtime advocate for clean energy and domestic manufacturing, will help lead the transition group tasked with lowering utility costs and modernizing New Jersey’s energy grid as part of Sherrill’s Day One priorities.
The appointment highlights Sherrill’s intent to link energy affordability to job creation and long-term sustainability, while aligning the state with federal clean energy goals, continuing the path forged by current governor Phil Murphy.
Key Points
- Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will co-chair New Jersey’s energy affordability Action Team.
- The team will focus on expanding offshore wind, grid reliability, and lowering electric bills.
- Granholm has championed a national goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030.
Granholm’s national wind strategy meets New Jersey’s coastal potential
As U.S. Secretary of Energy, Granholm has made offshore wind a centerpiece of the Biden administration’s clean energy strategy, setting an ambitious target of 30 gigawatts by 2030 — enough to power 10 million homes and cut 78 million metric tons of carbon emissions.
She has consistently framed wind development as both an environmental necessity and an economic opportunity, promoting what she calls “Clean Energy Patriotism” — the use of American labor, steel, and technology to build the domestic supply chain for renewable power.
Granholm’s inclusion in Sherrill’s transition effort is expected to bring federal expertise and industry coordination to New Jersey’s expanding wind sector, which includes multiple projects under development off the state’s southern coast.
Balancing growth, affordability, and local impact
Granholm has acknowledged that large-scale wind development comes with challenges, from grid upgrades to environmental concerns and permitting delays. Her approach emphasizes balancing rapid deployment with careful attention to coastal ecosystems and the fishing industry.
The Sherrill transition team’s work will include exploring how clean energy expansion can translate directly into lower electric bills for consumers and more stable energy production across the state.
By combining Granholm’s national experience with New Jersey’s existing offshore infrastructure, the incoming administration aims to position the state as a leading hub for renewable energy investment and innovation — one that, Sherrill says, “keeps costs down, creates jobs, and powers the future for every New Jersey family.”