Just now from Governor Mikie Sherrill, as promised:

So, right now, yes, before I even finish this speech, I am going to sign my first in a series of executive orders to declare a State of Emergency on Utility Costs. First, I am issuing an Executive Order giving the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities the authority to pause new utility requests for additional rate increases, and I will freeze rate hikes to finally provide families with real relief on their energy bills.

Second, I am issuing an Executive Order directing the Board of Public Utilities to open solicitations for new solar and storage power generation, to modernize gas and nuclear generation, so we can lower utility costs over the long term.

This is just the beginning. We are going to take on the affordability crisis, and we are going to shake up the status quo.

It won’t be easy, and hard choices have to be made to drive down costs as the federal government slashes funding and slams doors to opportunity.

But as I learned in the Navy, the only easy day was yesterday. Luckily, we don’t need easy here in New Jersey. We have grit, we are tough, and when you hurt our families, we are ready to fight — to fight for jobs, for housing families can afford, for good schools, safe streets, ending skyrocketing utility costs.