(New Jersey) – In a newly released survey, 80% of New Jersey voters feel their electric bills are already too high and express concern and anxiety about their own economic outlook.
Against the backdrop of rising power bills and the gubernatorial election this Fall, by a 37-point margin, New Jersey voters are more likely to support a political candidate who advocates for including more natural gas in the Garden State’s energy mix to increase power supply and cut costs (63%), rather than a candidate who continues the zero-carbon policies of Governor Murphy (26%). This includes a clear majority of the state’s vital independent voters (69-18%).
Further, an overwhelming majority of New Jersey voters (72%) believe consumers should be able to choose what energy source works best for them, compared to those who support moving away from natural gas toward electrification of buildings and homes (16%).
In fact, the most popular of six proposed solutions to fix the energy supply-and-demand crisis facing New Jersey is an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes natural gas working in partnership with renewable energy (66% support).
“As energy bills increase across the Northeast in an already uncertain economic environment, it is no surprise that residents care first and foremost about affordable and reliable energy,” said former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Natural Allies Leadership Council Co-Chair. “Coming out of the 2024 election, Democrats need to find their way back to common sense policies that put affordability and kitchen table issues first. It’s where independent and working-class voters are. Advancing balanced energy policies that include renewables and natural gas is key to tackling our energy affordability crisis and climate challenges together.”
The survey found that New Jersey residents are very concerned with their financial well-being, which correlated with their opinions on energy usage, policy, and resources.
The survey found that natural gas and solar are the two most popular forms of energy. Solar power is viewed favorably by 66% of the state’s voters, followed closely by natural gas (60%). Nuclear (47%) and offshore wind (44%) are popular, but less so. Even among Democrats, natural gas is viewed favorably by a 30-point margin (47-17%) and nearly 50-point margin among Independents (59-10%).
“New Jersey voters across the political spectrum want to return to a balanced energy policy that prioritizes affordability and reliability while also reducing emissions, and that only happens when natural gas works with nuclear and renewables to lower emissions, stabilize costs, and keep the lights on,” said Mike DuHaime, Founder and CEO, MAD Global Strategy.
A recent study by the Progressive Policy Institute highlighted that low-income communities are most at risk in an energy transition without natural gas due to higher prices. In fact, our survey found that 67% of New Jerseyans agreed their state elected officials should focus on policies that reduce cost burdens on low-income communities, rather than advance a zero-carbon only future that could bring higher costs for those who can least afford it (11%).
The poll was commissioned by Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future and conducted by MAD Global Strategy, a bipartisan public strategy firm led by DuHaime. The data is based on a text-to-web survey of 500 registered voters residing in the state of New Jersey, from May 14-18, as part of a larger 8-state regional survey (n=4,000) in the Northeastern United States on energy related issues. Additional state-based data will be released in the coming days.
For additional survey questions and results, click here for the full memorandum.