New Jersey Needs Balanced Environmental, Economic, and Energy Leadership
By Anthony P. Mauro Sr.
Founder, New Jersey Outdoor Alliance; MBA; Author and former NJDEP Transition Team Member
New Jersey faces a crisis—not just rising energy costs, but environmental missteps and economic strain. That’s why the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance (NJOA) is endorsing Jack Ciattarelli for governor.
The reality is undeniable: skyrocketing utility bills, stalled offshore wind projects, and degraded marine ecosystems are the result of an energy agenda that puts ideology before practicality. New Jerseyans are being asked to pay the price, literally and figuratively.
The Failure of the Current Energy Master Plan
The Murphy administration’s Energy Master Plan (EMP) aimed to fully electrify transportation and home heating while phasing out in-state electric generation. In theory, this should have led to a cleaner future. In practice, it has brought higher costs, reduced reliability, and environmental harm.
Offshore wind, the EMP’s flagship initiative, has become its most visible failure. Major developers like Ørsted and Shell have abandoned multi-billion-dollar projects off New Jersey’s coast. Ørsted canceled Ocean Wind 1 and 2 in 2023, while Shell wrote off nearly $1 billion from its Atlantic Shores investment. Taxpayers are left footing the bill for sunk costs, and New Jersey is left with a looming energy shortage.
Meanwhile, residents have already endured utility rate hikes of over 20%, with another 5% increase expected by 2026. Families are spending more on essentials and less on the outdoor activities that define quality of life in our state.
Why This Matters to Every New Jerseyan
Outdoor recreation is more than a pastime; it’s a pillar of New Jersey’s economy. Recreational fishing, boating, hunting, and wildlife tourism generate over $2 billion in direct retail spending and support thousands of jobs. The ripple effect contributes $4.1 billion to our economy, sustaining marinas, hatcheries, seafood processors, fishing guides, and local restaurants.
When energy costs soar, these businesses suffer. Higher operating costs and reduced discretionary spending by consumers threaten livelihoods and the communities that depend on them.
The impact doesn’t stop at the balance sheet. Offshore wind survey work has raised concerns among scientists and fishermen over the disruption of marine ecosystems, displacing whales, dolphins, and fish from critical habitats. If offshore wind construction proceeds, seabed disturbance can bury clams, crabs, and other keystone species. Both construction and early operating turbines can alter the migration and movement patterns of marine life.
These risks demand immediate action, not lofty rhetoric. True environmental stewardship means protecting wildlife and habitats while keeping energy affordable and reliable.
Ciattarelli’s Balanced Path Forward
Jack Ciattarelli offers a practical, science-based alternative. His pledge to rewrite the Energy Master Plan is not just a campaign promise; it is a necessary step toward restoring balance.
Ciattarelli supports a diversified energy mix that includes natural gas, nuclear, and solar. These technologies reduce emissions without sacrificing affordability, reliability, and environmental responsibility. He understands that economic vitality, environmental health, and energy security must work together, not against each other.
Freezing energy prices may sound appealing, but it only delays the inevitable, leading to even sharper rate hikes once the freeze ends.
A Call for Leadership
New Jersey should not have to choose between a healthy environment, a thriving economy, and affordable energy. With the right leadership, we can have all three, and that is why the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance proudly endorses Jack Ciattarelli for governor.