By Yazminelly Gonzalez, Trenton City Council President Community service has always been important to my family. While too many people in Trenton struggle to keep up, my father instilled in me the importance of giving back and using our voice to help others. In a state that already has a high cost- of-living, it troubles me that Black and Latino communities in our state face some of the highest energy burdens in our nation. Now, the Bureau of Public Utilities will raise energy rates again on June 1. For people in my community that are already struggling, we need a real conversation with our state leaders about addressing the economic hardship created by our current energy plan. Why it matters: Unfortunately, many of the state’s well-meaning policies proposed to support diverse communitieshave only ended up making things worse. As a teacher, it comes down to supply and demand you learn in school – Though we need more energy, the state has limited the supply to favored green technologies that is costly to build and dictatedexpensive appliance upgrades to homeowners. The result is higher prices on all customers. By the numbers: Rate hikes due to poor state policy are hardon every family but they are especially difficult for low-income communities: • New Jerseyans already spend an average of $178 per month on energy and gas. • Households in predominantly Black and Latino congressional districts spend a higher percentage of their income on energy than wealthier, whiter areas. • The June rate hike could increase utility prices on the average family about $260-330 per year. • The governor’s Energy Master Plan is projected to cost upwards of $40 billion dollars. Reality check: The simple fact is we cannot completely electrify in the near-term. About 75% of our electricity and home heating comes from natural gas. Consider these real-life examples: • Electricity and gas that power New Jersey Transit trainsand buses are produced from natural gas, require lubricants made from oil and are made with specialtyplastics. • Innovative medical devices and equipment used at Capital Regional medical facilities are made of plastics and powered by natural gas. • School supplies, computers, desks and cafeteria materials used in Trenton Public Schools are made from plastics. The current approach is failing. While energy demand increases, state policies have driven resources off the grid. Working-class residents can’t afford another increase, especially when energy burdens are already at crisis levels. These policies are rooted in a belief we can end the use of traditional fuels overnight, but in the process, too many voices have been excluded and middle-ground solutions that achieve both economic and environmental aspirations have been ignored. What needs to change? 1. Let consumers decide – New Jersey’s energy strategy should prioritize affordability and reliability starting with an end to bans on gas stoves and furnaces that would increase costs without meaningful environmental benefits. 2. Abandon EV mandates – Instead of forcing costly transitions to electric vehicles, the state should focus on market-driven solutions that expand transportation access and affordability. 3. Prioritize families over politics – Energy policy shouldn’t be a partisan battlefield. The state needs an all-of-the-above approach that blends fossil fuels and renewables to keep costs stable. Bottom line: New Jersey’s low-income communities are already paying too much for energy. Another rate hike would be a gut punch to working families. Policymakers must abandon obstructionist energy strategies and embrace solutions that lower costs, expand access, and accelerate affordable, proven energy solutions—without leaving people behind. Yazminelly Gonzalez is a lifelong resident of Trenton, a teacher in the Trenton Public Schools, and currently serves as an at-large representative and President of the Trenton City Council. ...read more read less