GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP - With utility bills dramatically rising, a new Stockton University poll finds that solar power has the highest support when New Jerseyans were asked what energy sources they would develop more to increase supply.
Though a plurality of New Jerseyans said affordability should be the top priority when it comes to state energy policy, most residents want to move toward a clean energy future, according to the poll by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy.
Majorities said it is important that the state take steps to become carbon neutral and want to prioritize renewable energy over fossil fuels.
The poll was conducted before Senate Republicans narrowly passed the Trump administration’s domestic policy bill, which includes provisions to end federal tax credits and phase in a new tax for solar and wind industries. The bill also includes a tax incentive for the development of a type of coal used in steelmaking.
“New Jerseyans want action to address the energy affordability crisis, which will only intensify as the state struggles to meet surging demand,” said Alyssa Maurice, Hughes Center head of research. “But it’s also clear that residents want to continue the clean energy transition.”
The poll of 606 New Jersey residents was conducted June 18-25 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percentage points.
Wind turbineA majority of 70% of residents said their electric bills have increased significantly (38%) or somewhat (32%) over the past year. Fewer (52%) said their gas bills have increased significantly (24%) or somewhat (28%) in that time period.
Nearly half of residents (48%) said they have had to adjust their budgets, reducing everyday spending to afford their utility bills, while 47% said they have not had to change their spending habits.
When asked which entities they think bear responsibility for the increased energy costs in New Jersey, if any, the highest rate (52%) cited utility companies, followed by elected officials in the state (47%), large corporations or businesses (40%) and the federal government (38%).
Higher rates of Republicans (70%) and Independents (50%) blamed elected officials in New Jersey than Democrats (34%).
When it comes to the state's energy supply, New Jerseyans want to focus on developing renewables. A majority of residents (57%) said expanding renewable energy sources like solar and wind power is a more important priority than expanding fossil fuels and 30% said the inverse — that increasing fossil fuels like oil and natural gas is a more important priority than renewables.
As the state grapples with rising demand, residents were asked which sources of energy they would support to increase supply. The highest rate (64%) supported solar power, followed by wind (41%) and nuclear (33%). The energy source with the highest rate of support for both Democrats and Independents was solar (80% and 69% support, respectively), while Republicans favored nuclear power (59%).
“Though lesser-known technologies like renewable natural gas, hydropower or geothermal energy weren’t listed due to limited familiarity, respondents did have the option to enter their own alternative,” Maurice said.
As the state prepares for a new administration to shape the future of energy policy in New Jersey, residents want the focus to be on reducing utility bills for ratepayers. When asked about the most important energy challenge for the state to address, the highest rate said reducing utility bills for residents (36%).
This was the most cited for all partisan affiliations. Behind affordability was ensuring the reliability of the electric grid (19%), diversifying energy sources (16%), reducing emissions to meet carbon reduction goals (14%), and meeting new industry demands for artificial intelligence and data centers (5%).
Most New Jerseyans (60%) said it is very important (31%) or somewhat important (29%) to them that New Jersey takes steps to meet clean energy goals and become carbon neutral by 2035. One-third said that it is not too important (12%) or not at all important to them (22%).
When it comes to personal changes to reduce their carbon footprint such as driving an electric vehicle, only 1 in 5 residents (21%) said they are very likely to consider a hybrid or electric model when shopping for their next car, 24% said they are somewhat likely, and 48% said they are not too likely (14%) or not at all likely to consider one (34%, including 55% of Republicans and 40% of Independents).
Residents are split evenly on the economic impact of policies aimed at reducing the effects of climate change. Nearly one-third (32%) said these policies help the economy and almost the same rate (31%) said they hurt the economy. One-fourth of New Jerseyans said these policies make no difference for the economy.
You can find the full poll results here.
