Fiordaliso punches back at legislators over gas stove issue

New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph Fiordaliso blasted fearmongers from both parties who claim the state will seize gas stoves, explaining that New Jerseyans will be asked to replace gas appliances with those that run on electricity down the road.

“Let’s be clear: we are requiring; we are not mandating anyone to give up their gas stove.  If that were the case, I’d be thrown out of my own house,” Fiordaliso said. “There has been a lot of misinformation. And, yes, fear-mongering out there and I want to put an end to it once and for all.  We are not coming for your gas stove or your local pizza shops oven. We are not forcing you – anyone – to do anything in any way.”

Fiordaliso’s comments came just before the board approved a measure to reduce the state’s dependency on natural gas and move toward expanded electrification over the next twelve years.

In addition to Republican lawmakers, two Democratic state senators, Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) and Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus), Assembly Appropriations Committee Chair Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn), and Assemblyman Christopher Tully (D-Bergenfield) announced their opposition to gas stove mandates earlier today.  A pair of Democratic Senate candidates in crucial South Jersey districts, John Burzichelli and Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, strongly bashing a plan they said would ban gas stoves.

“I cannot emphasize more that we are not mandating anything, so enough of the misinformation out there.  Enough,” said an angry Fiordaliso.  “Those who tell you otherwise are wrong and spreading lies.  Shame on those who at a time where the world should be engaging in meaningful dialogue about the impacts of climate change and ways to incentivize change like we are doing here today rather than focusing their time excuse me, on their next effort to deceive the public.  We have enough of that going around in this country today.  We don’t need more.”

Senate Minority Leader Anthony M. Bucco said today that the board’s approval would lead to banning gas stoves and that the legislature should have a more significant role in the process.

The BPU’s action today demonstrates that they’re willing to start implementing electrification plans no matter how unpopular they are, regardless of the cost, and without legislative oversight,” said Bucco.

A Republican commissioner, Mary-Anna Holden, backed up Fiordaliso.

“We’re not coming to your hot water heaters either,” said Holden, a former Madison mayor named to the board by Gov. Chris Christie.  She voted yes, along with Zenon Christodoulou, Christine Guhl-Sadovy, and Fiordaliso.  A newly-appointed commissioner, Marian Abdou, recused herself due to a conflict with a former employer.

Eric DeGesero, speaking for the Fuel Merchants Association of New Jersey and New Jersey Propane Gas Association, accused Gov. Phil Murphy of directing “his BPU bureaucrats to implement the legislation as if it’s law, and today they began the process.”

DeGesaro criticized the end-run around the New Jersey Legislature to implement Murphy’s clean energy policies.

“I’m sick of the BPU’s lies about ‘meaningful stakeholder process’ A three-minute slot on a ZOOM and a 20-day comment period is the antithesis of transparency and engagement. I’m sick of the lies spouted that the BPU has legal authority to implement this Order and regulate carbon emissions,” he said.  “The BPU’s lack of legal authority, as pointed out by Rate Counsel, is unchanged by today’s vote.”

Fiordaliso had defended the integrity of the Board of Public Utilities at today’s meeting.

“The one thing we don’t do here at the BPU is we don’t lie.  We will tell you the straight truth,” Fiordaliso said.  “So let’s stop the misinformation because quite frankly, I’m sick of it.”

DeGesaro suggested that today’s actions will have political consequences in the upcoming mid-term State Senate and Assembly elections.

“What I’m sick of is irrelevant,” He said.  “The people of New Jersey will decide this fall when we vote if we are sick of Governor Murphy dictating how we will heat and cook and drive.”