NJ & VA Voters In For an Energy Shock

November 7, 2025

Need to know

• Check out TEA’s website for the latest in energy news and opinion.
• Afternoon TEA: A common-sense law, not empty promises.
• TEA Takes: Momentum has shifted towards affordable, reliable energy.
• US shale producers SM Energy, Civitas to merge in $12.8B deal.
• Newest natural gas pipeline to connect Texas supply to Louisiana.
• Natural gas remains the most affordable home heating option.
• Trump puts $750M toward rare-earth magnets production.
• ExxonMobil threatens to leave the EU over sustainability rules.
• Climate-fighting efforts only show slight gain, UN says.
• Companies hit the brakes on EVs, laying off thousands.
• Perry’s nuclear ambitions begin with natural gas.
• Opinion: Alaska is America’s untapped energy frontier.
• $2.5B natural gas plant promises 3000 new WV jobs.

 

Common sense

NATURAL GAS IS YOUR “FOREVER FUEL”: Energy security is the priority of our current times, according to a recent poll conducted at an energy roundtable.

Why it matters: This belief, of course, aligns with TEA’s ARC Energy Security message and dovetails with the recent legislation introduced by Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio). That is why this bill deserves passage in both houses of Congress no later than early 2026.

This bill guarantees that our most affordable and reliable energy sources, including nuclear and natural gas, remain part of the energy mix — a crucial requirement to guarantee affordable, reliable, and clean energy for all Americans. These include low- to middle-income earners, small business owners, many veterans, and those on fixed incomes.

Consider:

• A Global Strategy poll showed that 53% believed that energy security was most important, 33% voted for affordability, and 12% voted for climate and sustainability.
• This underscores the need for natural gas today and into the future — and the panel of five energy experts agrees.
• One roundtable participant said, “We are going to need natural gas throughout our lifetimes, and probably throughout our grandchildren’s lifetimes, too. It is a vital cornerstone fuel for the world economy, and demand for it will grow in the future.”
• Regarding the future growth of natural gas, Mike Sommers, President & CEO of the American Petroleum Institute (API), declared natural gas was a “forever fuel.”

The consensus among the group was that affordability goes hand in hand with energy security, a position that TEA has advocated for over the past six years.

The world will need natural gas for decades to come, and America has an abundant supply. This keeps prices low and supplies strong at home and abroad through emerging LNG exports.

Bottom line: In today’s uncertain times, energy security is the number one priority. American natural gas is the affordable, reliable, clean fuel that delivers it.

 

Nonsense

VOTERS MISS THE MARK: Voters in New Jersey and Virginia chose new leadership Tuesday, with close gubernatorial races foreshadowing the 2026 midterms. Unfortunately, voters in both states got it wrong when it comes to their energy issues.

Why it matters: We cautioned voters last week about Democratic candidates — New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill and former Virginia Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger — being strong advocates of renewable energy and, if elected, they would not strongly support natural gas and other traditional sources of energy.

Virginia and New Jersey need economic growth and affordable energy, not failed policies that rely on unreliable and costly renewable energy. Unfortunately, that doesn’t appear to be the case based on the off-year election results.

Consider:

• The Garden State has one of the highest average residential electricity rates in the country, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
• Two-thirds of NJ voters previously said building more natural gas power plants is a “good idea” to help reduce energy bills.

• Exit polling conducted by CNN showed that among the 59% of voters who said electricity costs are a ‘major problem’ where they live, Ciattarelli won by 52% to 48%.

Unfortunately, the state’s high energy bills were not high enough to spark change. This, despite Republican Jack Ciattarelli campaigning on a President Trump-style populist message of energy reform that included stopping offshore wind farms and pulling out of a Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

• He had promised to “repeal unrealistic and unaffordable state mandates and timelines regarding electric vehicle sales, household appliances … which would make New Jersey even more expensive and punish working and middle class residents the most.”

In Virginia, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears was soundly defeated by Spanberger in a race that drew national attention. Spanberger and her allies spent $50 million on a campaign that included promoting expanded renewable energy development and being lukewarm on building out natural gas infrastructure.

“The theme of affordability is pretty widespread across these elections,” one expert pollster told ABC News.

Yet that message failed to resonate strongly enough in both eastern states, despite skyrocketing electricity costs.

Could this be the foreboding of a Blue Wave 12 months from now?

Quite possibly.

Is there now genuine cause for concern among Republicans as the 2026 midterms loom in the not-so-distant future?

Most certainly.

Bottom line: Selling a false promise of affordable energy, Democrats notched two decisive wins earlier this week. Voters are in for a shock when their bills keep getting higher.

 

A look ahead

 

Quote of the week

“SB 294 clearly defines affordable, reliable and clean energy and there’s no question which energy sources will continue to provide reliable power and lower utility bills for Ohioans.”

—President of the Oil & Gas Workers Association, Matt Coday, giving testimony in support of Ohio’s ARC Energy Security bill.