Soaring energy costs are reshaping how New Jersey voters think about power generation — and potentially eroding old political divides over how electricity should be produced.
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Energy survey: Residents favor all-of-the-above approach if it means more generation, lower costs
A new FDU Poll conducted in partnership with the International Union of Operating Engineers, released Tuesday morning, finds voters strongly favor an “all of the above” approach to lowering energy prices, with majority support for expanding natural gas, renewable and nuclear power — as well as restricting new data centers until more capacity is built.
The results suggest cost concerns are outweighing ideology, with voters across party and ideological lines backing nearly any proposal that could bring bills down in the near term, according to Dan Cassino, the executive director of the FDU Poll.
Here are 10 things to know about the poll:
10. Voters support almost anything that promises lower energy bills
The central finding of the survey is broad public impatience with rising electricity costs — and a willingness to consider multiple solutions at once.
Eighteen percent of voters support all four proposals tested, while another 40 percent support three out of four. Just 10 percent back none or only one.
“That’s a remarkably broad consensus,” Cassino said. “Voters don’t seem to care too much how we expand capacity — they want it done.”
9. Natural gas plants draw the strongest overall support
Building new natural gas power plants received the highest level of support, with 76 percent of voters in favor.
Support is strong across parties: 83 percent of Republicans and 70 percent of Democrats back new gas plants. Approval also cuts across ideology, with majority support among progressives, liberals, conservatives and MAGA voters.
Cassino said speed matters: “Natural gas plants can come online faster, and voters are clearly focused on short-term relief,” he said.
8. Renewables remain popular — but are deeply polarized
While a majority (67 percent) support building more solar and wind facilities, opinions are sharply divided along partisan and ideological lines.
Democrats (90 percent), liberals (87 percent) and progressives (92 percent) overwhelmingly favor renewables. Republicans (38 percent), conservatives (40 percent) and MAGA voters (28 percent) largely oppose them.
“Voters take cues from party leaders,” Cassino said, pointing to sustained Republican opposition to renewable expansion at the national level.
7. Nuclear power gets cautious majority support
Nuclear energy is the least popular generating option tested — but still earns support from 56 percent of registered voters.
Republicans are more supportive (65 percent) than Democrats (48 percent). New Jersey already gets about half its electricity from nuclear facilities, which are aging and may need to be replaced or upgraded in coming years.
The numbers suggest skepticism remains, but economic concerns are softening resistance.
6. Limiting data centers is a bipartisan idea
About two-thirds of voters (65 percent) support banning construction of new data centers until more power plants are built.
Support crosses party lines, with 61 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats backing the idea.
“People want assurances that large power users won’t drive up their bills,” Greg Lalevee, business manager for IUOE Local 825, said.
5. Voters link data centers to rising energy costs
Currently, data centers account for roughly 5 percent of electricity use in New Jersey — but their rapid proliferation, especially elsewhere on the East Coast, has heightened public concern.
Cassino said voters blame data centers, fairly or not, for higher prices. Economic arguments about jobs and investment have limited traction when household bills keep rising.
4. Cost pressure is overriding traditional energy debates
Historically, energy policy in New Jersey has sharply divided environmental, economic and labor interests.
This poll suggests those lines are blurring. Voters appear open to a mix of solutions — even ones they might previously have opposed — if it means more affordable electricity.
“Freezing bills helps,” Cassino said. “But voters are focused on structural fixes.”
3. The results echo recent messaging from Trenton
During last year’s gubernatorial campaign, Gov. Mikie Sherrill endorsed an “all of the above” energy strategy.
The poll indicates voters are broadly aligned with that approach, especially when it includes quick-to-build resources like natural gas alongside longer-term investments.
Union leaders emphasized gas plants could later transition to hydrogen as technology develops.
2. The poll reflects a rigorous, transparent methodology
The survey was conducted March 20–28 among 805 registered New Jersey voters, using a mix of live-caller phone interviews and text-to-web responses.
Data were weighted for sex, age, education, region and race/ethnicity. The margin of error is ±3.4 percentage points, or ±3.9 when accounting for weighting effects.
FDU Poll officials stress the sponsor had no role in question wording or data weighting.
1. The message from voters is simple: build more power
Across every question, one theme dominates — urgency.
Whether the solution is gas, renewables, nuclear or managing demand from data centers, New Jersey voters want action that increases capacity and lowers costs.
“The public is sending a clear signal,” Cassino said. “Do something — and do it soon.”
