Climate Jobs New Jersey launched, announcing it will work with the incoming administration to tackle the energy affordability crisis and help New Jersey take back control of its energy future by creating good union jobs and building more clean energy in the state.

Trenton, NJ — Workers from across New Jersey gathered in Trenton today to announce the formation of Climate Jobs New Jersey, a coalition of unions united to power New Jersey’s clean energy economy with union jobs and tackle the energy affordability crisis with a plan that works for every working family.

At the press conference, speakers unveiled the coalition’s priorities heading into the 2026 state legislative session. These include:

1. Launch a statewide solar and storage program to quickly deploy vast amounts of rooftop solar and battery storage so New Jersey can meet rising energy demand with in-state resources and do so in a way that creates new union jobs.
2. Take back control of our energy system by putting the state in charge of planning and purchasing energy, allowing New Jersey to actually plan for our energy needs by spurring in-state clean energy generation, and guaranteeing that workers benefit from every new project.

At the press conference, Cornell University’s Climate Jobs Institute unveiled a new report that offers a long-term roadmap and science-backed recommendations developed with input from New Jersey unions aimed at building a clean energy economy, creating good union jobs, advancing affordability and equity, and tackling the climate crisis.

“New Jersey has a long history of building and innovating, but when it comes to building our own energy, we have lost our way. We import far too much of our energy from out of state, which exacerbates high prices and sends jobs in the energy industry away. With this new agenda from Climate Jobs New Jersey, we can take control of our energy future and get back to building our own energy. This will create local union jobs, bring economic growth to our communities, and give us the clean energy we need to meet rising energy demands and confront the climate crisis,” said Charles Wowkanech, President of New Jersey AFL-CIO and President of Climate Jobs New Jersey.

“As demand for energy continues to grow, New Jersey faces some critical supply and demand challenges that won’t improve by ignoring them,” said LIUNA Vice President and Regional Manager and Climate Jobs New Jersey Secretary Michael Hellstrom. “Without smart and decisive action, our energy problems will only get worse. Climate Jobs New Jersey is an organization comprised of union trades workers who understand energy markets and infrastructure because they are the skilled, safe, and productive workforce who actually builds that energy infrastructure. We are interested in pursuing smart, practical, and science-backed solutions that benefit our residents and businesses by generating more clean, reliable, and affordable energy--in New Jersey and for New Jersey--while also creating good, family sustaining, middle class jobs.”

“When union labor leads, everyone succeeds. If New Jersey is serious about lowering energy bills and meeting skyrocketing demand, we must start building energy here, and we must start now,” said Greg Lalavee, Business Manager of Operating Engineers Local 825. “Through Climate Jobs New Jersey, we are laying out a simple plan: build energy here, store it here, and put New Jersey back in charge of its own energy future.”

“Thousands of IUPAT District Council 21 members are ready to get to work and build the facilities that create home-grown energy for families across the state,” said IUPAT District Council 21 Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer Bernie Snyder. “Our members have the training and skills to build this necessary infrastructure safely and efficiently."

“Members of the IUPAT have been on the forefront of green energy work all over the country, and are ready to get to work in New Jersey. Homegrown energy will be a boon to working families in the state, including our members,” said Paul Canning, General Vice President (Eastern Region) of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.

“Our members are investing countless hours in clean energy training because we know this industry’s future is strong,” said Anthony Abrantes, Assistant Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters. “Through state-of-the-art union training programs, we are building a clean energy economy that delivers more than temporary jobs—it creates lifelong, family-sustaining union careers. Now New Jersey must step up, invest in clean energy built here at home, and put union workers to work building our shared future.”

“Electricity bills are rising faster in New Jersey than just about anywhere else in the country. Much of our energy comes from out of state, which sends job opportunities away and leaves us tied to volatile prices. We need to take back our destiny and set New Jersey on a path to a secure and affordable clean energy future–and do it in a way that’s good for every working family,” said Shaun Sullivan, President of the New Jersey Pipe Trades and Business Manager of UA Local 475. “The men and women of the New Jersey Pipe Trades are fully trained and eager for opportunities to help produce clean energy for the state, and are proud to be part of this new coalition.”

“New Jersey's union workers have been building and maintaining energy infrastructure for generations. We are the best-equipped workforce to get clean energy built right, so that it benefits the economies and health of all New Jersey communities,” said Joe Checkley, President & Business Manager of IBEW Local 94. “Climate Jobs New Jersey is bringing together working people who know how to get the job done. Together, we can build a reliable clean energy industry that brings down costs for consumers and generates good union jobs.”

“With labor at the helm, we can build the clean energy and infrastructure the climate crisis demands while lowering energy costs and creating high-quality, family-sustaining careers. A cleaner, more resilient future will generate thousands of good jobs—and we must ensure they come with strong wages and benefits for New Jerseyans. This is what real climate action looks like for working people,” said Ana Maria Hill, Vice President and New Jersey State Director of 32BJ SEIU. “32BJ members see the climate crisis firsthand, which is why we’re helping building service workers cut energy use and create cleaner, healthier buildings.”

“The Climate Jobs Institute at Cornell University's ILR School was proud to work with and learn from New Jersey’s labor unions. Together, we have developed a bold, multi-sectoral, and science-backed plan to tackle the dual crises of climate change and inequality while creating high-quality union jobs and driving affordability for New Jersey residents in the face of historic energy price increases,” said Lara Skinner, Founding Executive Director of Cornell University’s Climate Jobs Institute. “Building a reliable, affordable, and abundant clean energy future for New Jersey will require massive investments in clean energy and infrastructure upgrades across the state. All of these investments have the potential to generate significant numbers of high-quality, family-sustaining, local union careers.”

Pictures and videos can be downloaded here.

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Climate Jobs New Jersey is a coalition of unions united to power New Jersey’s clean energy economy with union jobs and tackle the energy affordability crisis with a plan that works for every working family. Learn more at www.climatejobsnj.com/.