MURPHY FAILS TO ADDRESS COSTS TO CONSUMERS IN ENERGY MASTER PLAN EXECUTIVE ORDER

As Governor issues new Executive Order on Energy Master Plan, he has still not answered who will pay $20,000 bill?

TRENTON – At a news conference today on the Energy Master Plan, Governor Murphy again failed to answer who will pay the $20,000 cost per home to install electric heat pumps as per the EMP mandate. Governor Murphy was asked a question about paying for the EMP at the October 12, 2021 debate and was unable to answer it there either.

“Studies have shown that the cost for New Jersey homeowners to convert their homes to electric heat through the use of heat pumps will cost $20,000 or more,” said Jeanette Hoffman, spokeswoman for SmartHeatNJ.  “When asked about the extraordinary cost this mandate would have on New Jersey families, Governor Murphy has continually denied the public a straight answer.”

“Now the Administration is fast-tracking their clean energy mandates by 20 years, with no clear plan on how consumers or businesses will pay.  In today’s news conference, Governor Murphy said the state has received $170 million in carbon credits from RGGI that he intends to use for implementation of certain EMP  programs.  At $20,000 per home, that $170 million only covers 8500 homes in a state with 3.2 million housing units. In today’s press confrence the Governor stated that the money came from RGGI. Clearly, New Jersey homeowners — especially those in working class neighborhoods and communities of color — will be footing yet another enormous bill. ”

“While they continue to fast-track an electric heat mandate through regulation, it is clear the Murphy Administration has no plan to pay for it. Fortunately, there is new legislation introduced in the Senate, S-4133, sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal, that would prohibit the state from mandating electric heat.  Already, thousands of voters have reached out to their legislators through the SmartHeatNJ campaign demanding this common sense solution.”

#####