Clean Energy

The NJ Sierra Club strongly supports a just transition to clean energy sources such as responsibly developed offshore wind, solar power, and battery storage, which are currently the cheapest forms of energy, fastest to connect, provide economic, health, and environmental benefits, and create good jobs.

Currently, there’s a large backlog of cost-saving clean energy projects that are waiting to be connected by our regional grid operator, PJM, into the grid that would work to immediately lower electricity prices. In a November 2025 Synapse Energy Economics Report, it is estimated New Jersey families could save $467 per year by getting clean energy projects connected to the grid, and additional smart policies like data centers supplying their own affordable clean energy, adopting smart EV charging programs, and reining in utility profit margins.

Additionally, these projects will deliver stable lower-cost electricity for decades. They are not subject to ongoing fuel costs and wild price swings like fossil fuels; you don’t need to keep paying for the sun to shine and the wind to blow, and they do not depend on volatile geo-politics. With so many affordability issues in the country and in NJ, we must avoid electric bills continuing to be another.

Clean energy projects are also the fastest to be built. Solar projects take 1-2 years to build, as opposed to 5 or 6 years to build a natural gas power plant. With the current gas turbine shortage (internationally), it takes many more years than that.

Improved Air Quality and Public Health

Dirty fossil fuels currently make New Jersey’s air some of the dirtiest in the nation. According to a recent evaluation by the American Lung Association, our counties in New Jersey have failing air quality grades. 

This pollution causes cancer, heart disease and asthma, particularly in lower-income neighborhoods and in overburdened communities forced to live near polluting power plants. Transitioning to clean energy would ensure that our most vulnerable residents, particularly seniors and our children, are able to breathe cleaner air.

It is estimated that just by PJM unclogging the clean energy projects currently stuck in the interconnection queue, over 20,000 in-state jobs would be created. This could continue New Jersey’s legacy as a leader in the growing clean energy industry - creating thousands of good local, union jobs.

In the near term, we are focusing on influencing state legislation that addresses energy affordability (such as data center regulation), increasing clean energy procurement to meet new demand, increasing grid reliability, and holding our grid operator, PJM, accountable to bring down costs for families across the state. 

The New Jersey Sierra Club Clean Energy Committee advocates for non-polluting sources of electricity on New Jersey’s grid, including wind, solar, and battery storage. 

In 2026, the Clean Energy Committee will be bringing attention to the role of our regional grid operator, PJM, and the demands of new data centers, and the significant increases to the cost of electricity for New Jersey residents. 

Additionally, the Clean Energy Committee works with the NJ Chapter Building Electrification Committee to educate the public about the many benefits of switching their homes and vehicles from dirty oil or gas to electricity from clean energy sources such as solar or wind.

The Clean Energy Committee welcomes new volunteer members. Currently we meet on Zoom on the third Tuesday night of each month. Contact co-chairs Denise Brush and Howard Stein by email at offshorewind@newjersey.sierraclub.org to learn more. 

N.J. voted for clean energy. What’s the hold up? | Opinion, NJ Spotlight op-ed by NJ Sierra Club Director, Anjuli Ramos-Busot, November 2025

New Jersey Households Can Save $467 Per Year On Energy Costs With Key Policy Actions, Evergreen Action, November 2025

Policy Interventions to Address Rising Electricity Costs in New Jersey | Synapse Energy, November 2025

New Jersey Can Cut Energy Costs by Fighting Outdated PJM Rules, Evergreen Action, April 2025

Tackling the PJM Electricity Cost Crisis Report | Synapse Energy, April 2025

2024 New Jersey Energy Master Plan 

Clean energy programs that benefit all of New Jersey, New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program

NJDEP| Clean Energy | Incentives