Congratulations are in order.

On June 30, the New Jersey Legislature approved Ben Hertz-Shargel by unanimous consent to become the next President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, clearing the way for Governor Mikie Sherrill to officially install him as the state’s top utility regulator.

Hertz-Shargel brings an impressive résumé to one of the most consequential jobs in state government. An energy economist by training, he most recently served as Global Head of Grid Edge at Wood Mackenzie, advising utilities, technology companies and investors on grid modernization, distributed energy resources and the evolving electric system. He has spent his career studying how energy markets work—and, more importantly, how they sometimes don’t. That experience will be tested immediately. Because the challenges facing New Jersey aren’t theoretical anymore.

• Electric bills are rising.
• Reserve margins are tightening.
• Demand is accelerating from electrification, economic development and data centers.

Few positions in state government have a greater influence over New Jersey’s economic competitiveness. As President Hertz-Shargel begins his tenure, New Jersey has an opportunity to reset the conversation around energy policy. That means acknowledging that no single technology can do it all.

The grid needs new generation, new transmission and billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. Every major energy decision now carries enormous consequences—not just for utilities and developers, but for every homeowner and business paying an electric bill. The BPU sits at the center of those decisions. The agency regulates New Jersey’s electric and natural gas utilities, oversees infrastructure investments, approves utility rates, implements energy policy and helps determine what kinds of energy projects move forward.

For the last decade, Affordable Energy for New Jersey has argued that affordability, reliability and sustainability are strongest when they work together—not when one goal comes at the expense of the others.

Just as smart investors diversify their portfolios, smart energy policy should diversify its resources. New Jersey shouldn’t make the mistake of putting all of its eggs in one basket or betting the farm on any single technology. Natural gas, nuclear, renewables, battery storage, transmission and emerging technologies all have a role to play in building a reliable, resilient and affordable electric system.

The challenge isn’t choosing one winner. It’s building an energy portfolio that can withstand changing markets, growing demand, extreme weather and the unexpected. If New Jersey is going to succeed, it will require practical decision-making, thoughtful regulation and a willingness to embrace solutions based on performance, reliability and affordability. We congratulate President Hertz-Shargel on his confirmation, wish him success as he begins leading one of New Jersey’s most important agencies and stand ready to assist.

The decisions made at the BPU over the next several years will shape New Jersey’s economy for decades. We hope this new chapter is guided by one simple principle: when it comes to powering New Jersey’s future, diversification isn’t a compromise—it’s common sense.