NJ Unions Launch Coalition to Cut Energy Costs With Solar

When Claudia Mutzus stood in the New Jersey Statehouse holding a banner that read "Built by New Jersey workers for New Jersey families," she represented something bigger than a union rally. She was part of Climate Jobs New Jersey, a new coalition with a practical solution to the state's energy crisis.

New Jersey residents watched their electric bills spike 20 percent in June 2025, leaving families struggling and confused. The culprit? The state generates only 13 gigawatts of electricity daily but needs 19 gigawatts, forcing it to buy a fifth of its power from out of state at premium prices.

Climate Jobs New Jersey has a straightforward answer: build massive amounts of rooftop solar and battery storage across the state. The coalition brings together unions, workers, and researchers from Cornell University to tackle both the affordability crisis and climate change at once.

"This is an opportunity for us to work together and tackle head-on one of the most pressing issues facing our state today," said Charlie Wowkanech, president of the New Jersey AFL-CIO and Climate Jobs NJ. The coalition believes their solar program could be operational within 24 months, making it the fastest way to add clean energy and lower prices.

The state has already started clearing the path. In late December, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation that speeds up approval for residential solar and battery storage. The new law requires a digital permitting platform to be ready statewide within 18 months.

Taking back control means New Jersey can plan its own energy future instead of relying on the regional grid operator. Every new solar project would guarantee quality jobs for workers while generating clean power for families.

The timing couldn't be more urgent. New Jersey's temperatures have risen 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1895, faster than most states. Currently, solar provides only 8 percent of the state's electricity, with natural gas and nuclear power making up 90 percent.

The Ripple Effect

This coalition shows how climate action and economic justice can work hand in hand. Ana Maria Hill, vice president of 32BJ SEIU, explained it perfectly: "If we don't center affordability, job quality and equity, then we're not actually solving the crisis."

For Mutzus, who lives with her children in polluted Harrison, New Jersey, the coalition addresses three critical needs at once: fighting climate change, creating quality jobs, and reducing pollution in working communities. Cornell researchers partnered with the coalition to develop a roadmap that tackles both climate change and economic inequality together.

The plan represents a new model where workers lead the energy transition rather than getting left behind by it. Union members who build the solar panels and batteries will earn good wages while helping their neighbors afford electricity.

New Jersey families could see relief from crushing energy bills while breathing cleaner air and working better jobs, all powered by sunshine.