Under New York State’s POWER UP Grant Program, Empire State Development will provide an initial $100 million in grants to develop the electric infrastructure of sites statewide to create a network of power-ready sites —locations where upgraded electrical capacity significantly shortens the time between business site selection and operational launch.  By modernizing and expanding electric infrastructure, POWER UP enhances New York’s competitiveness in attracting high-quality jobs, particularly in advanced manufacturing. POWER UP will position New York State to attract high-growth industries through durable, future-facing upgrades that align with the energy and operational needs of 21st-century businesses.

In FY26, Governor Kathy Hochul created the Promote Opportunity with Electric Readiness for Underdeveloped Properties (POWER UP) incentive program to aid New York State (NYS) in creating an inventory of turn-key industrial sites to attract investment from next-generation manufacturers. The increasing power demands of modern manufacturers signifies a commitment to cutting-edge technologies like advanced robotics and computing systems—important drivers of a 21st-century economy. Developing the level of electrical infrastructure needed to support these technologies and manufacturers is a complex undertaking but is a crucial investment to keep NYS competitive in an evolving economic landscape. 

Building on the ongoing success of FAST NY, which provides grants to municipalities in New York to develop "shovel-ready" industrial sites, the new POWER UP program will focus on proactively developing electrical infrastructure at key industrial sites, helping to build a suite of locations that can support the next generation of modern manufacturers looking to operate in NYS. POWER UP will help to significantly shorten site development timelines and will allow New York to offer industrial sites that are both power-ready and shovel-ready. 

Empire State Development (ESD) will administer POWER UP in consultation with the Department of Public Service (DPS). ESD will lead program administration and site evaluation. DPS will provide advisory input, leveraging its knowledge of utility capital planning to ensure that proposed infrastructure investments are technically sound and aligned with regulatory requirements and public interest objectives.

*As of October 2025 

The POWER UP program will be launching Q4 of 2025. Please check back for updates and application instructions.  

Eligible Applicants:  

• Utilities, including:  
  • Regulated Utility Companies 
  • Public Power Authorities 
  • Municipal Utilities 
  • Electric Cooperatives
  • Other corporate structures as approved by ESD
• Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) 
• Municipalities
• Local Development Corporations (LDCs)
• Municipally Designated Economic Development Organizations (EDOs)
• Applicants must either:
  • Have ownership or control of the site, or  
  • Provide written consent from the ownership entity and, if different, the entity that has legal control of the site agreeing to use POWER UP funds as outlined in the application. 

Site Condition Eligibility: 

• Must be targeted to attract the following sectors:
  • High-tech manufacturing, including but not limited to semiconductors, renewable energy, life sciences, agribusiness, optics, transportation equipment, or materials processing.
  • Other priority sectors as determined by ESD.
• Must be a minimum of 40 contiguous developable acres in size and demonstrate a high-level of readiness with respect to preliminary engineering, feasibility studies, and engagement with electric utility providers.
  • Waivers may be granted by ESD for smaller sites that demonstrate exceptional public benefits or strategic value, such as proximity to intermodal transportation, population centers, brownfield redevelopment opportunities, or critical infrastructure supporting underserved communities or statewide energy goals.
• Industrial campuses with significant vacancy and underutilized infrastructure shall be eligible, even in the absence of new developable land, provided the existing structures can be adapted for use by an eligible strategic industry and require power-related upgrades to become viable. 

Eligible Costs: 

• Capital grants will be awarded to enhance the power readiness of mature industrial sites by funding critical infrastructure upgrades. Eligible improvements include, but are not necessarily limited to:
  • Electrical infrastructure such as transformers, conductors, buses, switches, insulators, substations, and poles; and,
  • Utility conduits, including conduit and duct banks;  
  • Technology and monitoring systems such as monitoring equipment, energy storage, and alternative energy system components  
  • Non-electrical infrastructure costs, such as masonry, fencing, excavation, structural fill, site restoration, and property acquisition, may also be eligible if essential for the implementation of the POWER UP project.
  • Other costs as determined by ESD. 

*As of October 2025 

The POWER UP program will be launching Q4 of 2025. Please check back then for updates.  

• POWER UP Program Guidelines

*As of October 2025 

The POWER UP program will be launching Q4 of 2025. Please check back then for all documentation requirements for the application. 

• Up to $300 million will be made available for capital grant funding, subject to additional appropriation. Program funding in the amount of $100 million was appropriated in the 2025-2026 New York State budget.
• Awards will be allocated on a rolling basis until funding is exhausted.
• ESD may consider regional or geographic parity in allocating awards. 
• ESD may require restrictions on the future use of awarded sites consistent with the purposes of their POWER UP grant terms. 

For questions about the POWER UP program, please contact:

David Whipple, Senior Director, Industry Development 

Phone: 646-398-2191

Email: [email protected]