Ray Cantor, Deputy Chief Government Affairs Officer of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), presented his testimony at a virtual public stakeholder meeting held by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. The meeting aimed to discuss updates to the state's 2024 Energy Master Plan.
Cantor expressed concerns about the plan's focus on all-electrification policies, which he believes could exacerbate existing issues of affordability and reliability in New Jersey's energy sector. "We have a fundamental problem with where this Energy Master Plan seems to be going," Cantor stated. He emphasized that while decarbonization goals are important, they should not overshadow the need for affordable and reliable energy.
He highlighted the struggles faced by not only low-income residents but also middle-class families and businesses in managing energy costs. Cantor stressed the importance of including businesses, particularly those in manufacturing, in discussions about energy affordability and reliability.
Cantor urged a balanced approach that includes renewable energy sources like solar and offshore wind but also emphasized the necessity of natural gas generation to meet resource adequacy needs efficiently. He argued that new natural gas power plants would have lower emissions compared to coal generation from other states, thus contributing to carbon emission reduction.
While acknowledging efforts to make the Energy Master Plan more affordable, Cantor questioned its feasibility without market-driven solutions. "If these options were more affordable, like EVs, the market would drive us there as they have already driven down carbon cost," he concluded.
