For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jackie Greger, Jackie.Greger@sierraclub.org
Gov. Murphy Joins 8 Governors in Bipartisan Letter Calling for PJM Reforms
Trenton, NJ - Today, Governor Murphy and 8 additional governors representing both Democratic and Republican states in the PJM region sent a letter to the PJM board expressing concerns about their leadership and urging them to fill the remaining two open seats with candidates recommended by the bipartisan slate of governors.
The letter was signed by Governors Murphy (NJ), Shapiro (PA), Meyer (DE), Moore (MD), Pritzker (IL), Whitmer (MI), Beshear (KY), Lee (TN), and Youngkin (VA).
In the letter, the governors point out PJM’s “multi-year inability to connect new resources to its grid efficiently and to engage in effective long-term transmission planning.” In June, PJM raised prices across its 13-state region by up to 20 percent due to the regional transmission organization’s lack of planning and delay in adding renewable energy to its grid.
In New Jersey, we experienced rate increases by around 20%. According to a recent analysis from Evergreen Action, if PJM continues its current course, New Jersey ratepayers could face annual energy bills exceeding $2,000. However, by adopting common-sense reforms and accelerating clean energy deployment, consumers could instead save more than $400 per year.
Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of the NJ Sierra Club, issued the following statement:
“The historic action taken today by these democrat and republican Governors demonstrates the widespread malfunction of our regional grid operator, PJM, and their severe lack of transparency or accountability up until this point.
We are in the midst of another capacity auction and facing ever increasing demand from the build-out of energy intensive data centers and worsening heat waves; prospects are slim of any relief for ratepayers. In fact, we could see an additional rate hike next summer because of PJM’s mismanagement of our grid and clear bias towards (more expensive and volatile) fossil fuels under the false guise of "reliability."
Meanwhile, hundreds of clean energy projects are still waiting in the interconnection queue to be deployed and plugged in, like solar and battery storage, which would actually make electricity more affordable for everyday residents.
We thank Governor Murphy for joining in this bipartisan regional effort, and look forward to continuing to find solutions to hold PJM accountable and keep the pressure to increase transparency, bring down costs for families in New Jersey and across the region.”
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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information about our work in New Jersey, visit www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey