NJIT Alumnus and State Senator Paul Sarlo Publishes Op-Ed on New Jersey’s Energy Strategy
New Jersey Senator and NJIT alumnus Paul Sarlo ’92, ’95 recently published an op-ed calling for a balanced and affordable energy strategy for the state. In the piece, Sarlo raises concerns about rising utility costs and highlights the need for a diversified energy mix to meet New Jersey’s growing demand.
Read the full op-ed here: https://www.nj.com/opinion/2026/02/sarlo-nj-shouldnt-focus-on-a-single-energy-source-or-utility-costs-will-continue-to-climb.html
His commentary comes as New Jersey Institute of Technology continues to bring together state leaders, researchers and industry partners around many of the issues he outlines — including energy reliability, infrastructure planning and long-term system resilience.
NJIT as a Convening Space for Energy and Infrastructure Leaders
NJIT recently hosted its Future of Energy Track during Energy Week, a program that gathered utilities, policymakers, researchers and technology partners to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping New Jersey’s power system. The conversation will continue in April with an engineering and industry conference that brings together practitioners, government agencies, community partners, and NJIT faculty and students to share advances across the infrastructure and energy sectors and strengthen collaboration between the university and its partners.
Research Advancing the Next Generation of Energy Technologies
Across several academic units, NJIT researchers are contributing new science and engineering that aligns with the state’s long-term energy goals. Recent examples include:
- AI-assisted discovery of new battery materials, aimed at advancing safer and more sustainable alternatives to today’s lithium-ion technologies.
- National Science Foundation–supported research into next-generation energy-storage systems designed to enhance grid performance and stability.
NJIT students and alumni are also active contributors to the clean-energy landscape. A student team recently earned first place in an international net-zero energy design competition for a project focused on affordability and community resilience. Separately, an NJIT graduate Chao Yan was recognized as a global climate innovator for developing a new battery-recycling technology at his company Princeton NuEnergy.
Center for Building Knowledge and Statewide Clean-Energy Education
NJIT’s Center for Building Knowledge (CBK) plays a central role in supporting New Jersey institutions as they move toward cleaner, more efficient energy systems. CBK administers the New Jersey Clean Energy Learning Center, an online platform that expands training and awareness around clean-energy technologies, building performance and state energy policy. It offers support for a variety of constituents including residential owners, developers and trade organizations.
One such program, the Campus Consortium for Decarbonization, provided colleges and universities with planning resources, technical expertise and shared learning opportunities.
These offerings help create a clearer path for institutions across New Jersey to reach their climate and sustainability commitments while exposing NJIT students to hands-on, career-relevant work.
Alumni Leadership and Institutional Impact
Sarlo’s op-ed is one example of how NJIT graduates contribute to statewide conversations about infrastructure and energy planning. As New Jersey’s public polytechnic university, NJIT provides research, workforce development and convening power that support the state’s broader efforts to modernize its energy systems and prepare for future demand.