As New Jersey’s gubernatorial race heats up, Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli is promising voters lower utility bills and “energy independence” – but his proposals reveal a fundamental misunderstanding of how energy policy actually works. During a recent appearance, Ciattarelli declared that, if elected, he would withdraw New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state carbon cap-and-trade program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He claimed the policy has “failed New Jersey,” driving up energy costs, failing to clean the air, and sending “$300 to $500 million” of ratepayer money to other states.
But none of that is true.
Top Three Takeaways from the Article:
Ciattarelli’s claims about RGGI are false and misleading – He falsely claimed that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative sends hundreds of millions of dollars to other states and hasn’t cleaned the air. In reality, RGGI has reduced emissions by 50% and reinvests all funds locally in New Jersey.
His “energy independence” promise is impossible – New Jersey has never been energy independent and relies heavily on imported energy. Ciattarelli’s slogan is political theater, not policy reality.
Replacing renewables with natural gas will raise costs, not lower them – Natural gas prices are expected to rise sharply in coming decades, while renewables already provide nearly 40% of New Jersey’s electricity. Ciattarelli’s plan would undo progress, increase pollution, and make energy bills higher.
According to state energy data, RGGI adds just $2.33 a month to the average New Jersey ratepayer’s bill – less than the cost of a cup of coffee. And contrary to Ciattarelli’s claims, carbon emissions in RGGI states have dropped by roughly 50% since the program began, while participating states have collectively reinvested billions of dollars into local clean energy projects, efficiency programs, and job creation. Every cent collected under RGGI stays within the participating states – not one dollar is sent out of New Jersey.
So when Ciattarelli insists that pulling out of RGGI will somehow make New Jersey “energy independent” and lower costs, he’s offering voters a fantasy, whether he knows it or not.
The Myth of “Energy Independence”
Ciattarelli also promised that by the end of his first term, New Jersey would be “energy independent again.” The problem? New Jersey has never been energy independent. The state imports most of its energy – both electricity and fuel – and always has. There’s no realistic scenario where New Jersey could produce enough energy within its borders to meet its needs, especially if it abandons renewables in favor of fossil fuels.
Energy independence makes for a good campaign slogan, but it’s not an achievable goal for a state that relies heavily on imports, limited natural resources, and an interconnected regional power grid.
Trump-Era Thinking, Repackaged
If Ciattarelli’s energy rhetoric sounds familiar, that’s because it’s a carbon copy of Donald Trump’s talking points. Like Trump, Ciattarelli wants to roll back renewable energy programs, withdraw from regional climate agreements, and double down on natural gas – even as global markets show that gas prices are volatile and expected to rise steeply over the coming decades.
In fact, natural gas prices are projected to increase as much as tenfold over the next 20 years, according to energy analysts. That means replacing the state’s existing renewable energy – which currently provides nearly 40% of New Jersey’s electricity – with natural gas isn’t just environmentally reckless, it’s economically disastrous.
Ciattarelli’s plan would tether New Jersey’s energy future to a fuel source that’s becoming more expensive, less stable, and increasingly influenced by global export markets. With the current federal administration prioritizing liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports, domestic prices could climb even faster.
So when Ciattarelli says he’ll save New Jerseyans money by shifting back to fossil fuels, he’s either misleading voters or doesn’t understand basic energy economics.
The Real Cost of Bad Energy Policy
New Jersey’s participation in RGGI has helped the state make real progress – cleaner air, more investment in renewable energy, and thousands of jobs in the clean tech sector. Pulling out would undo those gains and leave residents more exposed to the price swings of the fossil fuel market.
Ciattarelli’s proposal isn’t just bad policy; it’s a blueprint for higher bills, more pollution, and fewer jobs.
New Jersey deserves serious leadership on energy – not political theater built on misinformation. Both Ciattarelli and his ideological allies in the Trump movement have had years to demonstrate how deregulation and fossil fuel dependency could lower costs. Instead, the nation saw the opposite: rising energy prices, chaotic supply chains, and a hollowed-out clean energy sector.
If Ciattarelli truly wants to make New Jersey more secure and affordable, he should be talking about grid modernization, energy storage, local solar, offshore wind, and efficiency investments – not dragging the state backward into the same failed fossil fuel politics that got us here in the first place.
Because if there’s one thing more expensive than clean energy, it’s bad planning.