Power constraints — not demand — are becoming a major barrier to housing and economic growth across the Finger Lakes, with local leaders warning that uncertainty, not just cost, is stopping projects before they even start. Developers are dealing with unpredictable timelines, multi-million-dollar upgrade costs, and inconsistent answers from utilities, forcing some to rely on public incentives just to cover basic infrastructure.
Officials like Ryan Davis, Ontario County’s economic development director, and Matt Horn of MRB Group say years of underinvestment — combined with uneven growth across the region — have left the grid struggling to keep up, creating a gap between where housing is needed and where power is actually available. Local leaders are now pushing for better transparency, stronger state action, and more coordinated advocacy, while acknowledging the problem is complex and won’t be solved with a single fix.
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