Our electricity bills are projected to increase 17 to 20%. New Jersey is a leader in funding alternative energy production. We need more transparency about the progress of energy projects, their expected output, and impact on future costs. Creating a more sustainable environment should be a non-partisan goal, but so should understanding how our tax dollars are working and expected return on investment. We can continue leading the nation and expand programs for municipal solar production. New Jersey already generates a large portion of its electricity with nuclear power, and we should investigate the viability of modular nuclear power production to reduce the costs of energy.
Other states have put in place programs to oversee pharmaceutical affordability. New Jersey is home to some of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. We should be able to work with these companies to create discounts on expensive prescription medication for New Jersey residents.
Following the passing of affordable housing legislation in 2024, each municipality in New Jersey has a requirement to rehabilitate and develop a certain number of affordable housing units over the next 10 years. Without making housing more affordable with more supply, the cost of living in New Jersey is not going to get better.
We need to fix gaps in the recent legislation and provide resources to municipalities that actually work for their specific local needs. Mayors and local councils need better state level and regional tools. Let’s create regional planning boards to help towns coordinate development, and ensure that the state housing formula allocates funding for towns which need additional infrastructure to make plans work for new and existing residents alike. Towns need flexibility, and renters need fast access. Let’s remove dispute resolution from judges to a neutral commission with representative stakeholders, including civic planning experts, both to let towns amend proposals and to break ground more quickly. We should give priority access to first responders and teachers serving that municipality and track and administer it consistently across the state.
