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NJ Governor Declares Energy Emergency On Day One
What’s new:
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill wasted no time Wednesday, signing six executive orders before she finished her inaugural address.
Two of them were related to energy. Sherrill declared a formal State of Emergency regarding utility costs, allowing the state to bypass red tape, expedite power projects, and get new generation on the grid as fast as possible.
* (EO #1) Freezing Rates: The order halts upcoming utility rate hikes and utilizes existing state funds to offset bill increases scheduled for June.
* (EO #2) Solar & Nuclear Push: The administration is fast-tracking thousands of megawatts of new solar and battery storage in the short term, and establishing a nuclear power task force to figure out longer-term projects.
Why it matters:
* Immediate Relief: The policies take an aggressive stance against regional grid operator PJM, blaming their “mismanagement” for current costs and forcing utilities to realign business models to benefit ratepayers.
* Supply, supply, supply: Sherrill’s strategy is based on the idea that more power will automatically mean lower costs. Her administration is shifting focus to getting in-state generation on the grid fast rather than relying on the regional grid.
Her own words: “In the Navy, I learned that you have to lead, follow, or get out of the way... I promised the people of New Jersey that I would be on a mission to deliver starting Day One.”
Checking In on Trump’s Campaign Promise to Cut Energy Bills In Half
What’s new:
President Trump and his administration have yet to deliver on their campaign pledge to cut energy bills by 50% in their first year, as electricity and gas prices climbed significantly in 2025.
* Bills are rising everywhere: The average US household electricity bill rose 6.7% in 2025, and gas bills jumped 5.2%.
* It’s worse in our region: Electricity prices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, however, rose far faster than the national average, rising by double-digit percentage points across both states.
* Disconnections: Utility shut-offs (when a power company intentionally cuts power to a specific region) are also spiking. In New York, the disconnection rate rose fivefold. In December, thousands of Colorado residents went without power for an entire weekend due to an intentional utility shut-off.
Why it matters:
* Supply vs. Demand: Experts say the grid is failing to meet new demand due to the “ideologically driven attack” on wind and solar. Solar is now the cheapest and fastest power source to deploy.
* Policy paradox: The White House is doubling down on fossil fuels and blaming “blue states,” but analysts note that infrastructure costs and extreme weather are driving rates up regardless of state politics.
Sources:
Promise Kept: Governor Sherrill Takes Bold Action with Executive Orders Declaring State of Emergency on Utility Costs
New Jersey governor spends first day in office issuing executive orders on solar
Trump promised to cut energy bills in half. One year later, has he delivered?
How Trump’s promise to slash energy bills in half has failed across the US
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit exactsolar.substack.com
View all episodes
By Exact SolarWhat’s new:
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill wasted no time Wednesday, signing six executive orders before she finished her inaugural address.
Two of them were related to energy. Sherrill declared a formal State of Emergency regarding utility costs, allowing the state to bypass red tape, expedite power projects, and get new generation on the grid as fast as possible.
* (EO #1) Freezing Rates: The order halts upcoming utility rate hikes and utilizes existing state funds to offset bill increases scheduled for June.
* (EO #2) Solar & Nuclear Push: The administration is fast-tracking thousands of megawatts of new solar and battery storage in the short term, and establishing a nuclear power task force to figure out longer-term projects.
Why it matters:
* Immediate Relief: The policies take an aggressive stance against regional grid operator PJM, blaming their “mismanagement” for current costs and forcing utilities to realign business models to benefit ratepayers.
* Supply, supply, supply: Sherrill’s strategy is based on the idea that more power will automatically mean lower costs. Her administration is shifting focus to getting in-state generation on the grid fast rather than relying on the regional grid.
Her own words: “In the Navy, I learned that you have to lead, follow, or get out of the way... I promised the people of New Jersey that I would be on a mission to deliver starting Day One.”
Checking In on Trump’s Campaign Promise to Cut Energy Bills In Half
What’s new:
President Trump and his administration have yet to deliver on their campaign pledge to cut energy bills by 50% in their first year, as electricity and gas prices climbed significantly in 2025.
* Bills are rising everywhere: The average US household electricity bill rose 6.7% in 2025, and gas bills jumped 5.2%.
* It’s worse in our region: Electricity prices in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, however, rose far faster than the national average, rising by double-digit percentage points across both states.
* Disconnections: Utility shut-offs (when a power company intentionally cuts power to a specific region) are also spiking. In New York, the disconnection rate rose fivefold. In December, thousands of Colorado residents went without power for an entire weekend due to an intentional utility shut-off.
Why it matters:
* Supply vs. Demand: Experts say the grid is failing to meet new demand due to the “ideologically driven attack” on wind and solar. Solar is now the cheapest and fastest power source to deploy.
* Policy paradox: The White House is doubling down on fossil fuels and blaming “blue states,” but analysts note that infrastructure costs and extreme weather are driving rates up regardless of state politics.
Sources:
Promise Kept: Governor Sherrill Takes Bold Action with Executive Orders Declaring State of Emergency on Utility Costs
New Jersey governor spends first day in office issuing executive orders on solar
Trump promised to cut energy bills in half. One year later, has he delivered?
How Trump’s promise to slash energy bills in half has failed across the US
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit exactsolar.substack.com