At a time when many polls call the race for the next governor a near toss-up — percentages that (as usual) generally fall among party lines, a recent query shows there is some consensus on a key issue: Building and expanding our natural gas capabilities in an effort to address energy needs.
An FDU Poll released earlier this week said 67 percent of the state (obviously two out of every three people) felt the state should build more natural gas facilities.
This more than enough Eric DeGesero, the spokesperson for Fuel Merchants Association of NJ and NJ Propane Gas Association, to continue a verbal crusade he has been on for years: Promoting a balanced approach to energy needs, one that does not put all of its efforts behind increased electrification and offshore wind.
“The FDU shows something remarkable in these fraught times, consensus,” he said. “The public overwhelmingly agrees that we need new electric generating capacity from … natural gas.”
DeGesero’s comments are not surprising — he’s been a long-standing critic of the energy policy of Gov. Phil Murphy since they were introduced.
Having his comments come out today — three days after the FDU Poll — is not a coincidence, either. They are timed to the day the state’s offshore wind plans received a crushing blow.
“The death of unaffordable and unpopular projects is usually something to celebrate – on this date in 2023, Orsted killed the Ocean Wind projects because they weren’t going to be profitable for the company,” he said.
“This ended offshore wind in New Jersey, a cornerstone of Gov. Murphy’s Energy Master Plan. His policy failure of only considering offshore wind for new electric generation and then not building it, has left us in an energy deficit which has dearly cost New Jersey residents and businesses in the form of skyrocketing energy bills.”
To be fair, the collapse of the potential offshore wind industry is not the root cause of the recent energy rates. After all, even in the most optimistic timelines, they would not be adding to the power grid just yet.
DeGesero, however, has long said policies that seemingly were intended to do away with natural gas — rather than supplement it — was the mistake.
Fixing this problem is just as complicated.
Republican nominee for governor Jack Ciattarelli has openly campaigned on the idea that more natural gas plants will be a key to his energy policy.
Many others support the idea, including influential union leader Greg Lalevee of IUOE 825.
It’s an idea the FDU poll indicates the state supports.
To be fair, the poll does fall a bit along party lines as 90 percent of those identifying themselves as Republicans favor the idea. But nearly 50 percent of Democrats do, too – creating an impressive 67% support.
For DeGesero, that’s a big win.
“You would think it’s impossible for two-thirds of us to agree on anything, but we do here,” he said, before taking one more shot, “just like our opposition to electric heat pumps.”
