CANANDAIGUA, N.Y. — Ontario County leaders and housing advocates are sounding the alarm that Upstate New York’s housing shortage is being made worse by energy infrastructure failures. Senator Pam Helming, the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce, Ontario County Economic Development, and local developers met this week to address what they described as a “gridlock crisis” caused by limited electrical capacity across the region.
One example is playing out in Canandaigua, where a long-planned 650-unit housing development, designed to serve essential workers and young families, is now stalled. Developers were told they would need to spend $20 to $25 million in grid upgrades before being allowed to connect to the existing system. Even with that investment, surrounding parcels would remain underpowered, leaving little capacity for future residential or business growth.
“This is what happens when state mandates outpace reality,” said Senator Helming, who represents New York’s 54th Senate District. “The CLCPA forced reliable power producers offline before replacement capacity was in place. Now, utilities are warning municipalities the grid is full. We can’t build housing if we can’t power it, and we can’t keep families here when the infrastructure they depend on is falling apart.”
The problem extends well beyond Canandaigua. Communities across the Finger Lakes and Upstate New York have housing projects ready to break ground but are facing the same hurdle: insufficient energy infrastructure. Without significant upgrades, shovel-ready sites remain undeveloped, creating ripple effects that stall workforce growth and economic opportunity.
Tracey Dello Stritto, President of the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce, underscored the link between reliable infrastructure and community growth. "Housing is an essential part of sustaining a strong workforce, a thriving business community, and vibrant neighborhoods. Continued economic growth depends on having both the housing and modern infrastructure to support it. We remain committed to working collaboratively with business leaders, developers, and government partners to ensure Ontario County continues to be a place where people want to live, work, and invest,” she said.
Ryan Davis, Director of Ontario County Economic Development, echoed those concerns, noting that the shortage of housing has become the top issue for employers considering expansion in the region. “The biggest issue facing economic development in Ontario County and across the region has been the lack of available housing. The number one concern for both current and prospective employers working with my department has been, where will we get the people? Because of this, Ontario County has taken the lead with nearly 25% of the pro-housing communities within the Finger Lakes. Despite this hard work, our communities are now faced with the harsh reality that they may not be able to realize the growth that they have prepared for because of years of neglect from the utilities and NYS energy goals that we are not prepared to achieve,” Davis said.
Helming argued that state climate mandates, including the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and all-electric building requirements, have outpaced infrastructure readiness. She called for an immediate pause on mandates until grid capacity aligns with demand, coupled with a significant state investment in energy modernization.
“New York’s housing crisis is urgent, and delays caused by inadequate energy infrastructure will only make it worse,” Helming warned. “If we want nurses, welders, EMTs, teachers, and young families to live and work here, we must give them both a home and the power to keep it running. That starts with an immediate pause on the CLCPA and all-electric building mandates until grid capacity meets demand, and with significant state investment to modernize our energy infrastructure now.”
With employers already struggling to recruit talent, officials fear that without housing and infrastructure improvements, Upstate communities could lose both workforce and economic momentum. For Ontario County, where leaders have worked to position the area as pro-housing, the gridlock is especially frustrating.
Senator Helming represents Ontario, Wayne, and Livingston counties, along with parts of Monroe County. Dello Stritto leads the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce, and Davis directs the county’s economic development efforts.
Originally reported by Pamela Helming in New York State Senate.