TRENTON, NJ – – Across New Jersey, all the leaves are brown and the sky is grey, but for many in the state, Governor Phil Murphy’s California dreaming has turned into a financial nightmare.
Already the highest taxed state in the country, New Jersey, under Murphy also has among the highest gas prices in the country. Now, New Jersey is quickly climbing up the ladder regarding electricity costs.
Governor Phil Murphy’s vision to transform New Jersey into the “California of the East” through an aggressive clean energy agenda is facing harsh realities as electricity prices soar and promised renewable energy projects falter. Residents across the Garden State are bracing for yet another significant price hike, with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) approving increases of 17-20% amid growing reliance on out-of-state power and the collapse of key wind energy initiatives.
Customers can expect that increase to hit their bills this summer.
Murphy, who took office in 2018, has long championed a shift to renewable energy, modeling his policies after California’s ambitious green framework. Central to his Energy Master Plan were offshore wind farms and a transition to clean energy sources, with a goal of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2035.
He also pushed for a ban on new gas-powered car sales by the same year, aiming to electrify transportation and reduce carbon emissions. However, these lofty aspirations have stumbled, leaving New Jerseyans to shoulder the financial burden.
The state’s much-touted wind energy projects, once heralded as the backbone of Murphy’s clean energy revolution, have largely failed to materialize. High-profile setbacks, such as the 2023 cancellation of two major offshore wind farms by Danish energy giant Ørsted due to inflation and supply chain issues, have cast doubt on the viability of Murphy’s plans.
More recently, the Atlantic Shores project, a joint venture between Shell and EDF, lost critical support and state funding, further delaying the prospect of operational wind turbines off the Jersey Shore. As a result, not a single offshore wind turbine is currently generating power for New Jersey, despite years of promises and significant state investment.
With renewable energy production lagging, New Jersey has been forced to purchase more electricity from the regional grid, relying heavily on fossil fuel-based power from neighboring states. This shift has driven up costs, a burden now passed on to consumers. The BPU’s recent approval of a 17-20% electricity rate increase has sparked outrage among residents already grappling with some of the highest utility bills in the nation. For the average household, this translates to an additional $15 to $20 per month, a steep price for a clean energy dream that remains out of reach.
Critics point to Murphy’s gas car ban as another misstep exacerbating the state’s energy woes. Set to phase out new gasoline vehicle sales by 2035, the policy hinges on widespread electrification—yet the state lacks the power infrastructure to support it. With wind projects stalled and no significant increase in renewable capacity, New Jersey faces a growing power shortage. Residents and businesses are left questioning how the grid will handle the added demand of electric vehicles when it’s already struggling to meet current needs.
Governor Murphy sold us a vision of affordable, clean energy, but all we’ve gotten are broken promises and higher bills. The math never added up, and now families are paying the price for his California-style ambitions.
Murphy’s administration has defended its efforts, arguing that the transition to clean energy requires patience and that global economic challenges have hindered progress. In a recent statement, the governor acknowledged the “significant challenges” facing the offshore wind industry but insisted that New Jersey remains committed to its environmental goals.
However, with his term nearing its end in 2026, Murphy is poised to leave office without a tangible legacy in renewable energy production—a stark contrast to the bold promises that defined his tenure.
For now, New Jersey residents are left with the fallout: skyrocketing electricity costs, an uncertain energy future, and a growing sense that the state’s California dreaming has become a costly nightmare. As the BPU approves yet another rate hike and the grid strains under increasing demand, the question looms—will Murphy’s clean energy vision ever power the state, or will it remain an unfulfilled fantasy?