The Brian Lehrer Show 30 Issues in 30 Days: Climate and Energy in New Jersey
Sep 24, 2025
Ry Rivard, a Politico reporter focused on regional infrastructure, delves into New Jersey's energy issues and the candidates' stances on climate policy. He explains how demand and supply challenges are driving rising electricity costs in the state. Rivard discusses the impact of plant closures and the state's clean-energy initiatives, including nuclear and solar strategies. He also clarifies the implications of New Jersey's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and addresses citizen concerns about soaring bills linked to these energy policies.
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Regional Market Drives Price Spikes
- PJM, the 13-state regional grid operator, is a core driver of recent price spikes because regional market conditions raised wholesale prices.
- Ry Rivard says these regional dynamics turned a technical issue into a major political crisis for New Jersey.
Data Centers Raise Regional Demand
- Supply falls and demand rises across the PJM region, notably due to data center growth in nearby states.
- Ry Rivard explains rising data-center demand and permitting hurdles have tightened supply and lifted costs.
Offshore Wind Shortfall Hurt Supply Plans
- New Jersey's offshore-wind bet hasn't produced expected local generation, weakening projected supply additions.
- Ry Rivard notes market forces and federal policies slowed offshore wind, undercutting Governor Murphy's generation plans.