Sherrill takes action to kick-start nuclear projects
Aims to lower costs with a competitive process
By: Katie Sobko
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
..... Governor Mikie Sherrill has signed legislation that will lick-start the construction of nuclear energy generation facilities in New Jersey.
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At a Monday July 13, [2026] press event, Sherrill said the new law will cerate a competitive process to build nuclear energy projects that can power hundreds of thousands of homes.
..... "In government, it is really easy to fixate on the challenge right in front of you, the headline or the crisis of today, but when we defer tomorrow's problems, they don't just disappear. they get more expensive," the governor said.
..... The legislation empowers the Board of Public Utilities and the Economic Development Authority to seek, evaluate and ultimately approve nuclear energy projects that would most meet growing energy demands. The law also includes safeguards to protect ratepayers: Proposals require secured federal funding, multiple public comment periods and a public hearing in the municipalities in which projects are prosed. It also requires the BPU and the Economic Development Authority to consider independent assessments of project proposals by the Division of Rate Counsel.
..... Sherrill said underinvestment in the electricity grid, weak oversight and bureaucratic delays have led to the skyrocketing utility costs.
..... "New Jersey has always been on the leading edge of innovation, especially on clean energy," she said. "Now a nuclear renaissance is taking shape across America, with new partnerships and billions in federal funding, and New Jersey is dreary to lead once again."
..... Sherrill has been vocal about her desire not to freeze prices where they are but to find ways to bring them down.
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Just minutes after taking the oath of office in January, [2026] she made good on her promise to declare a state of emergency to freeze utility costs on day one of her administration by signing tow executive orders to that effect. The first order calls for the Board of Public Utilities to "pause or modify utility actions that could further increase bills." and it gives the board the authority to "set just and reasonable public until rates, to investigate any matter concerning any public utility, and to require any public utility to furnish safe, adequate, and proper service.
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It also provides credits due to be issued July 1 [2026] to help offset electricity costs. Sherrill's second order is where that "state of emergency" phrasing comes into play, declaring the emergency under the state's Civilian Defense and Disaster Control Act to call for the creation and expansion of state programs to develop new power generation. The order calls for starting and streamlining programs to bring on new solar and battery storage generation. It also directs state agencies to identify permit reforms to speed up new energy projects. electric utilities will also have to report energy requests from AI data centers to the BPU, and the order creates a Nuclear Power Task Force to help New Jersey lead the way in building new nuclear power generation. New Jersey is part of a 13-stte electricity grid operated by PJM Interconnection. It is responsible for operating the eclectic grid for a huge swath of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, stretching from New Jersey to North Carolina and form the coast into Illinois, covering about 70 million residents within its service area.
..... Katie Sobko covers the Statehouse. email:sobko@northjersey.com