the staff of the Ridgewood blog
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jeff Van Drew is calling out New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and other Democratic governors for what he says is an attempt to shift blame for the Garden State’s energy crisis onto PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator overseeing electricity for 13 states and Washington, D.C.
In a scathing statement issued this week, Van Drew said Governor Murphy’s energy agenda—not PJM—is at the heart of skyrocketing electricity rates, grid instability, and a looming energy shortage as power demand surges across the region.
⚡ What’s the Issue?
Last week, nine governors including Murphy sent a letter to PJM accusing the organization of mismanagement and citing delays in connecting new power sources to the grid.
But Van Drew isn’t buying it.
“PJM has been warning for years about the consequences of Governor Murphy’s policies and how they would drive up energy prices,” Van Drew stated. “Instead of listening, Murphy poured billions of taxpayer dollars into failed offshore wind projects and unnecessary EV charging stations.”
🔌 Failed Energy Policies & Grid Pressures
Van Drew emphasized that the closure of reliable fossil fuel power plants, under Murphy’s clean energy push, has left the grid strained at the worst possible time—just as AI technologies and data centers are accelerating regional power demand.
“Murphy’s policies have shrunk energy generation at the exact moment demand is exploding,” Van Drew said. “PJM is left managing the fallout, but it’s working families who are footing the bill.”
💸 Ratepayers Hit Hard
In addition to policy missteps, Van Drew highlighted rising delivery fees—added costs on electric bills that are further burdening New Jersey residents.
“These ‘delivery fees’ are crushing ratepayers,” he said. “It’s outrageous that people are being charged extra just to get electricity delivered to their homes.”
Van Drew urged immediate action to eliminate these unnecessary fees and redirect state efforts toward reliable energy sources like nuclear and natural gas.
🛑 “Stop the Excuses, Start Leading”
Van Drew’s core message to Governor Murphy: Stop deflecting. Own the consequences. Fix the problem.
“Governor Murphy is looking for someone to blame for the consequences of his own agenda. The truth is clear—New Jersey needs energy reliability, not more political games,” Van Drew said. “It’s time to start making smart investments and stop gambling with our power grid.”
🔍 Looking Ahead
As AI infrastructure, electric vehicle growth, and data centers continue to drive up electricity demand, energy policy in New Jersey is becoming a front-and-center issue for both local leaders and national lawmakers.
The question now is: Will New Jersey reverse course before the lights go out?
For ongoing coverage of the New Jersey energy crisis, reliable grid solutions, and updates on state energy policy, follow our blog and stay informed http://eepurl.com/bgt6T #RidgewoodBlog #News #LocalNews #StateNews #NationalNews #Subscribe #StayInformed #Community
Hog the credit, spread the blame.
Mikie Sherrill will the the perfect NJ Governor.
NO solutions and everything is somebody else’s fault.
and raise taxes
Plus she will have Keith Kazshark too Win Win
November can’t come soon enough. Jack will turn NJ around.
Van Drew is absolutely correct! where the hell are the rest of the republican politicians?
Democrats think windmills will run the economy. Jackasses!
Add to this NJ banning the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035; it’s unworkable. Most people can’t afford electric cars, and there’s little infrastructure to support them. Also, the power grid malfunctions frequently; I experienced three outages in the last two weeks, which makes running the air conditioner especially chancy during heat waves like the ones we’ve been having. Unfortunately, it’s fossil fuels leading to climate change that are causing this unprecedented weather; I sure as **** don’t remember humidity and heat like this from when I was a kid.