Lambasting efforts by the Trump administration to curb renewable energy development, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed an executive order this week aimed at expanding solar generation and battery storage in the state.
The order, one of two aimed at tackling rising electricity rates, made good on one of her campaign promises, and declared the shrinking gap between supply and demand and the resulting rate hikes a state of emergency. Sherrill also seeks to expand natural gas plants and study the potential for new nuclear power.
Clean energy advocates praised the move.
“The governor is really focusing on how can we build out as much renewable energy as possible … and how can we do it faster and cheaper by cutting red tape,” said Alex Ambrose, a policy analyst with the left-leaning think tank New Jersey Policy Perspective, which leads a coalition of groups advocating for renewable energy called Power Play NJ. “All of these will result in lower bills in the long term for everyone.”