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Ciattarelli vs. Sherrill on Energy Policy

Energy
Staff
Author: Staff
15 min.read

New Jersey’s electricity ratepayers have faced significant financial strain, with double-digit electricity rate increases announced in February 2025, initially projected to range between 17.23% and 20.20% for June 2025 and more expected from the July 2025 PJM capacity auctions. These higher rates, combined with increased usage during heat waves, have hit hard. To say the next Governor of the State of New Jersey will have to deal with this issue would be the biggest understatement of this year’s election cycle.

Natural gas and nuclear energy provide over 90% of the state’s total electricity generation but the state faces challenges from delays in bringing new power generation projects online and the retirement of older facilities, which are tightening supply. The Murphy administration banked on an aggressive offshore wind strategy to increase in-state generation, but those efforts have failed. Now, New Jersey is importing 35% of its electricity, making the state vulnerable to regional grid constraints and wholesale auction price spikes.

New Jersey’s energy security is deeply intertwined with regional grid stability, underscoring the paramount need for robust in-state generation and efficient interconnection of new power sources. 

From this vulnerable energy position, the 2025 gubernatorial race between Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill is a referendum on New Jersey’s energy future. This article analyzes the candidates’ energy policies and energy records.

Mikie Sherrill: Championing a Clean Energy Transition

Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill’s energy policies are based on the basic planks of the national Democratic platform – that climate change is an existential threat that must be faced head on with a rapid transition to renewable energy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and hopefully avert the worst impacts of climate change. As was reported in Politico New Jersey in June, Sherrill supports and would continue Governor Murphy’s 100% clean energy goal by 2035.

Sherrill is pledging bold action at the state level to invest in clean energy. Her campaign aligns closely with the Sierra Club’s vision for an affordable, 100% clean energy future, asserting that such a transition will protect communities from flooding and climate change while simultaneously lowering utility costs through clean, inexpensive power like solar. This framing positions climate action not as an economic burden but as a pathway to economic relief and growth. By emphasizing the affordability of certain renewable energy sources, she seeks to reframe the clean energy transition as a solution to the current energy affordability crisis, directly countering arguments that such transitions inherently raise costs. 

Sherrill on Solar

Sherrill advocates for increased investment in New Jersey’s solar capacity. She introduced the “RAISE the Roof Act” in Congress to expand the solar investment tax credit (ITC) to include integrated solar roofs, aiming to make solar adoption easier and more accessible for American families. Her agenda includes investments in community solar and hosting clean energy on state properties.

Sherrill on Offshore Wind

Despite the cancellation of Orsted’s Ocean Wind 1 and 2 in 2023 and Atlantic Shores in 2024 due to economic headwinds (along with the precarious state of the other offshore wind leases), Sherrill continues to view offshore wind as a crucial step for New Jersey to realize its potential as a national and global leader in renewable energy and a key hub for East Coast wind production. Sherrill has openly criticized the state’s “failure of permitting and regulation” for delays and the collapse of offshore wind projects, stating that these issues “cost us”. She has committed to streamlining approvals to bring clean energy online.

Sherrill on Nuclear

Sherrill’s background as a Naval officer working on nuclear treaty obligations informs her stance on nuclear power. She explicitly supports its expansion, stating that “if we want to meet our economy’s long-term energy needs, we must build our nuclear energy infrastructure” and that she “will expand our nuclear energy generating capacity to take on our energy crisis”. 

Sherrill on Natural Gas

Sherrill’s approach to natural gas focuses on mitigating the environmental impact of existing infrastructure. In 2021, Sherrill introduced the “Mitigate Methane Now Act” in Congress to curb climate change by encouraging the replacement of old natural gas distribution lines, a significant source of methane leakage, particularly in the Northeast. This legislation also seeks to protect lower- and fixed-income consumers from rate increases associated with these essential repairs by establishing a state grant program. It is unclear however the role any future natural gas expansion would play in a Sherrill administration as the Congresswoman has yet to mention the fuel source by name in written or public remarks since declaring her candidacy.

Sherrill on Electric Vehicles

In a June op-ed authored by the Congresswoman, she highlighted innovations that she believes are underutilized in New Jersey, specifically, she called for “More and faster electric vehicle chargers, which work with the grid, so people can feel secure making their next car purchase an electric vehicle.”

Sherrill supported the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that allocated funding for electrical vehicle charging stations in New Jersey. She recently opposed House Joint Resolution 88, which called for overturning the California Advanced Clear Cars II – a state level rule that aims to phase out the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035 in favor of electric vehicles. 

Sherrill on Energy Affordability

Sherrill has deemed recent rate hikes “unacceptable” for households and businesses, cautioning that high utility costs could lead to businesses relocating. Her primary strategy for driving down costs involves getting “more clean power to the grid” and streamlining approvals to bring clean energy online. She has pledged to hold PJM, the regional grid operator, accountable for delays in connecting new energy sources.

Sherrill’s public statements and endorsements from environmental groups like the Sierra Club and New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, which have called her an “environmental champion,” are consistently supported by her voting record. She has consistently voted against measures that would undermine federal authority on LNG, attack oil and gas leasing reforms, roll back clean water safeguards, defund clean energy research and development, block electric vehicle tax credits, and eliminate EPA’s cleaner cars rules. 

Jack Ciattarelli: A Balanced, All-of-the-Above Approach

Jack Ciattarelli advocates for a new Energy Master Plan that “promotes an all-of-the-above energy policy.” While acknowledging that “climate change is real and accelerated by human activity,” Ciattarelli has criticized Governor Murphy’s clean energy plan as “irrational,” “too much, too soon, too fast,” emphasizing the need for a “rational transition”. This “all-of-the-above” approach implies a slower, more diversified shift away from fossil fuels, emphasizing reliability and cost-effectiveness over rapid decarbonization targets, which he views as potentially disruptive and expensive. Mr. Ciattarelli has

Ciattarelli on Wind & Solar

Ciattarelli’s perspective on renewable energy is nuanced. He has stated, “We need more solar”. However, he aligns with President Trump’s budget priorities, which have been described as “attack[ing] solar energy” by cutting subsidies, viewing wind and solar as “expensive and unreliable” if federally subsidized.

His opposition to offshore wind is strong and explicit; he pledges to “ban offshore wind farms from being built off our coast and along our Jersey Shore”, considering them “bad economic policy, bad energy policy, and bad environmental policy,” citing concerns about their cost and potential adverse effects on marine life. He argues that some renewable technologies are “not yet ready for prime time” and that “we are wasting taxpayers’ dollars if we rush these technologies”. His opposition stems from a belief that large-scale renewable projects, especially offshore wind, are economically inefficient, unreliable, and potentially environmentally detrimental without significant taxpayer subsidies.

Ciattarelli on Nuclear

Ciattarelli strongly supports nuclear power, highlighting its “zero carbon emissions” contribution—over 40% of New Jersey’s electricity—and advocating for an emphasis on “micro nuclear” as “the wave of the future”. This is a shift from his earlier stance in 2017, when he opposed providing subsidies to the state’s nuclear power plants, arguing that incentives for solar and wind undermined nuclear. 

Ciattarelli on Natural Gas

Ciattarelli views natural gas as “the bridge to the future”. He supports incorporating “more natural gas in the Garden State’s energy mix to increase power supply and cut costs”. He advocates for natural gas working “in partnership with renewable energy” and would invest in “safe, clean natural gas and nuclear until emerging renewable energies are more practical and affordable”. He perceives current policies as hindering sufficient in-state generation by limiting conventional sources, which he believes are necessary to stabilize costs and ensure supply until renewables are “more practical and affordable.” This is a direct philosophical counterpoint to Sherrill’s approach, which seeks to leverage clean energy investments to achieve affordability.

Ciattarelli on Electric Vehicles

In an 2023 op-ed published in the Asbury Park Press, Ciattarelli said the government incentives being used to drive the mandate forward are “insulting and unfair” to working-class people. In May of 2025 Mr. Ciattarelli posted on his social media accounts that he would eliminate the electric vehicle mandates on day one of his administration.

Ciattarelli on Energy Affordability

“Making New Jersey Affordable Again” is a central theme of Ciattarelli’s campaign, as he links rising electricity bills to “Murphy’s radical agenda”. His plan includes repealing “unrealistic and unaffordable state mandates and timelines regarding electric vehicle sales, household appliances, home renovation, and home construction,” which he argues make New Jersey more expensive and disproportionately punish working and middle-class residents. He proposes “cleaning house” at the NJBPU to reform permit and approval systems for generation, aiming to bring power online more expeditiously.

This historical pattern indicates that his “rational transition” would likely involve a slower, less mandated shift away from fossil fuels.

Side by Side Comparison

The energy policy platforms of Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli both acknowledge the state’s rising energy costs and the need for a stable power supply, but their proposed solutions and underlying philosophies differ significantly.

Issue AreaMikie Sherrill’s PositionJack Ciattarelli’s Position
Overall Energy VisionComprehensive clean energy transition; 100% clean energy future“All-of-the-above” energy policy; “rational transition”
Climate Change StanceUrgent crisis requiring bold action to protect communitiesClimate change is real and human-accelerated, but current plans are “too much, too soon, too fast”
Energy Affordability StrategyLower costs by increasing clean energy supply, streamlining approvals, holding PJM accountableReduce costs by repealing “unrealistic mandates,” promoting diversified supply (including natural gas), and reforming BPU
Renewable Energy (General)Strong proponent; emphasizes investment in clean energySkeptical of “rushing” technologies; views some as “unreliable” if federally subsidized
Solar Energy“Cheapest energy source”; increased investment; expanded ITC for integrated roofs; community solar“Need more solar”, but aligns with policies cutting solar subsidies
Offshore Wind“Crucial step” for NJ leadership; applauds federal support; blames state permitting issues for delaysWill “ban” offshore wind; calls it “bad economic, energy, and environmental policy”; cites cost and marine life concerns
Nuclear PowerSupports expansion for long-term energy needs and decarbonizationStrong support for nuclear, especially “micro nuclear,” as zero-carbon baseload
Natural GasFocus on mitigating methane leaks from existing infrastructure; protecting low-income consumers during repairs“Bridge to the future”; increase supply to cut costs; partner with renewables
CoalNo explicit mention of future role; focus on reducing emissions from fossil fuel sectorImplicit critique of policies limiting fossil fuel generation by noting neighboring state’s coal use
Electric VehiclesSupports phasing our gas power vehiclesOpposes electric vehicle mandates
Regulatory ApproachStreamline approvals for clean energy; hold PJM accountableReduce regulatory burdens; “clean house” at BPU; repeal mandates

The gubernatorial race between Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli presents New Jersey voters with a stark choice regarding the state’s energy future. Sherrill champions an accelerated transition to a 100% clean energy future, advocating for significant investments in solar and offshore wind, while also supporting nuclear power as a critical baseload. Ciattarelli, on the other hand, proposes a more measured, “all-of-the-above” approach that prioritizes immediate affordability and reliability through continued reliance on natural gas and nuclear power.

The most pronounced area of disagreement is offshore wind. Sherrill strongly supports its expansion, seeing it as vital for New Jersey’s leadership in renewable energy, while Ciattarelli vows to ban it, citing concerns about cost and environmental impact. Their differing views on its economic viability and ecological effects represent a clear ideological divide.

A nuanced area of overlap exists in their positions on nuclear power. Both candidates support nuclear energy as a carbon-free source, though their emphasis and historical stances vary. Sherrill views it as essential for long-term energy needs and decarbonization, while Ciattarelli highlights its zero-carbon contribution and advocates for “micro nuclear” as a future solution. This shared ground could represent a bipartisan opportunity for maintaining baseload power, despite their broader disagreements on renewables.

Both candidates identify rising energy costs as a critical issue, but their proposed pathways to affordability differ. Sherrill proposes to lower costs by accelerating the deployment of clean energy and improving grid efficiency through regulatory streamlining and holding PJM accountable. Ciattarelli aims to reduce costs by rolling back what he perceives as expensive mandates and increasing supply through a broader energy mix that includes natural gas.

The fundamental disagreement centers on the pace and method of New Jersey’s energy transition, particularly the role of large-scale renewables versus conventional and nuclear sources. 

November’s election will determine New Jersey’s strategic balance across the energy trilemma: security, affordability, and environmental sustainability. The state’s status as a net importer and its reliance on existing baseload power mean that the chosen path will have profound and immediate consequences for residents’ utility bills, business competitiveness, and the state’s environmental footprint.

Sources

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