State Senator Tom O’Mara is sounding the alarm about a looming energy mandate he says could make housing even less affordable in New York.
In a recent column, O’Mara criticized upcoming changes to the state’s Energy Conservation Construction Code. Set to take effect in January, the new requirements will mandate that all new buildings under seven stories — including single-family homes — use all-electric heating, cooling, and appliances.
According to O’Mara, the changes could add at least $7,500 to the cost of building a home — and up to $25,000 when factoring in all-electric infrastructure and equipment. That’s before accounting for higher monthly energy bills, he noted.
“These costs will fall hardest on working- and middle-class families who are already struggling to find housing within their means,” O’Mara wrote.
The senator said he and other members of the Senate Republican Conference have urged Governor Kathy Hochul to pause the mandate and issue an executive order allowing builders to continue using the existing 2020 energy code. He pointed to Vermont as an example, where the governor recently gave builders more flexibility to help lower housing costs.
O’Mara argued that the mandate stems from a broader strategy launched under New York’s 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which he says puts affordability and consumer choice at risk.
A recent survey by the New York State Builders Association (NYSBA) found that only 14% of New Yorkers are aware of the upcoming law. Among those familiar, the most common concerns are cost, grid reliability, and loss of choice.
“New York needs a balanced path forward,” NYSBA Executive Director Mike Fazio said, warning the all-electric rule could delay construction, strain the grid, and worsen the housing crisis.
O’Mara agreed, calling on state leaders to “deliver common sense and flexibility” before the law takes effect.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].