New Jersey 2025 Gubernatorial Election: Key Climate & Clean Energy Themes
Last Updated: 12/8/25
THREE DEBATE QUESTIONS, 28 DEBATE MENTIONS, AND 12 ADS:
During the September New Jersey gubernatorial debate, moderators asked the candidates two questions related to energy costs and the impacts of climate change.
- Sherrill mentioned energy costs five times, energy generation twice, energy needs related to data centers once, and climate change once.
- Ciattarelli mentioned energy generation twice, energy costs once, and climate change once.
During the October New Jersey gubernatorial debate, moderators asked the candidates one question related to energy generation and costs.
- Sherrill mentioned energy costs six times, and energy generation once.
- Ciattarelli mentioned the RGGI three times, energy generation three times, and energy costs twice.
During the campaign, Sherrill released five ads that mentioned energy costs. Ciattarelli released seven ads that mentioned energy costs, as well as one ad attacking offshore wind.
SHERRILL CENTERED LOWERING ENERGY COSTS AND PROTECTING NEW JERSEYANS FROM RATE HIKES:
- Sherrill made declaring a state of emergency on utility rates on day one a priority of her campaign and a pillar of her costs messaging. She pledged to freeze rate hikes and to hold regional grid operators accountable for stalling clean energy projects. Sherrill cited the electricity shortage as the cause of rate hikes and noted the increased energy demand caused by data centers, stressing the need to take action to reduce energy prices and ensure data centers pay their fair share. In her victory speech, Sherrill reiterated her pledge to declare a state of emergency on utility costs on day one, noting that she ran her campaign on the issue of affordability, including energy costs.
- Ciattarelli defended the Trump administration’s actions that have led to higher energy costs, claiming Trump had “nothing to do” with electricity bills rising. Ciattarelli also repeatedly vowed to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which, in June 2025, provided over $430 million in energy bill assistance to 3.9 million New Jersey ratepayers.
SHERRILL WENT ON THE OFFENSE TO PROTECT AND GROW NEW JERSEY’S CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY:
- Sherrill pledged to build an “energy arsenal,” working with New Jersey manufacturers to expand solar and battery storage and boost workforce development. Sherrill called expanding solar energy “key” to lowering utility costs and pledged to improve permitting and regulations to support the development of offshore wind, as well as build out infrastructure for electric vehicles.
- Instead of proposing a concrete plan to increase energy generation while lowering costs, Ciattarelli vowed to repeal the state’s clean energy goals and repeatedly attacked New Jersey’s offshore wind industry. Throughout his campaign, Ciattarelli was in lockstep with Trump – he repeatedly claimed wind turbines harm sea life, and dismissed the industry’s jobs as not enough to “justify the wrong public policy.” Rather than supporting the state’s clean energy industry, which employs over 62,000 New Jersians, Ciattarelli said he would increase toxic fossil fuel generation, calling gas the “rational transition to the future.”
SHERRILL MADE CLIMATE RESILIENCE, ADDRESSING POLLUTION, AND PROTECTING COMMUNITIES FROM EXTREME WEATHER A PILLAR OF HER CAMPAIGN:
- Sherrill advocated for a comprehensive strategy to address climate change and environmental injustice, while fueling economic growth and creating good-paying jobs. She frequently drew on her experience securing funding to replace lead service lines, upgrade water infrastructure, and address pollution. Sherrill also emphasized the importance of resilient infrastructure in protecting communities from extreme weather and preserving jobs in the state’s forestry and farming industries, and vowed to develop a statewide flood mitigation and resiliency plan as governor.
- Despite acknowledging the reality of climate change and its acceleration caused by human activity, Ciattarelli blamed overdevelopment for New Jersey’s increased threat of extreme weather and proposed ending the teaching of climate change in schools.