Upstate United Responds to Approval of Expansion of Prevailing Wage and 100-Foot Rule

December 22nd, 2025

The following can be attributed to Justin Wilcox, Executive Director of Upstate United

Expansion of Prevailing Wage:

“While the Governor’s approval memo for legislation to expand prevailing wage mandates to custom prefabrication work acknowledges that certain projects will be exempt to mitigate cost impacts, this bill will still significantly increase costs across the industry. It is deeply disappointing that the governor approved a policy that knowingly raises costs for projects and, ultimately, New Yorkers at a time when affordability is the state’s top concern.”

100-Foot Rule:

“The Governor’s approval message states that repealing the 100-foot rule will lower costs. The reality is that when this law is enacted next year, New York residents and developers who choose to use natural gas will have to pay more. Claiming that New Yorkers will no longer have to socialize those costs is disingenuous, especially since we continue to socialize the cost of electrification. From the North Country to Buffalo, affordable housing is a major concern, and this law will worsen the issue while deterring access to a reliable heating source.”