AGP Executive Report

AI & Energy Grid Strain: The U.S. Department of Energy invoked wartime-style emergency authority again to force regional grid cooperation as AI data centers push peak demand higher, triggering diesel backup requirements and worsening air quality concerns. Vermont Clean-Energy Funding: Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture and DEC is accepting applications for $5.9M to replace or repower older diesel vehicles and equipment with electric alternatives via the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust, with deadlines running monthly through Dec. 2026. PFAS & Local Sports Infrastructure: CVU’s artificial turf field debate is back at the selectboard, with residents urging legal and proactive steps over potential PFAS contamination risks. Public Health Monitoring in the Upper Valley: Dartmouth Hitchcock’s rooftop pollen counter is providing continuous local air-sample data for clinicians in Vermont and New Hampshire, improving allergy and immunology planning. STEM in the Community: A Vermont group’s “ICE Tour” aims to spotlight DHS facilities in Chittenden County, blending local organizing with public education. Back-to-School Tech & Consumer Pressure (Vermont angle): A Reuters look at earlier bargain hunting highlights how higher food and gas costs are reshaping what families buy first, including electronics and popular school gear.

Clean-Energy Fleet Funding: Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture and Vermont DEC are accepting applications for a $5.9M Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust grant to replace or repower older diesel equipment with all-electric options, including Class 4–8 trucks, buses, heavy forklifts, airport ground support, freight switchers, and some marine engines; farms and food businesses are a key target, with applications due monthly through Dec. 2026. Tick Season Watch: Vermont is heading into its highest tick activity in nearly a decade, with ER and urgent care tick-bite visits running above the 2017–2025 average in many weeks; officials warn ticks and tick-borne illness are becoming a “new normal.” Grid Strain From AI Data Centers: A federal emergency power rule is being used again to force AI data centers onto diesel backup during grid stress, underscoring how rapidly growing data-center loads are colliding with electricity reliability. Pollen Monitoring in the Upper Valley: Dartmouth Hitchcock’s rooftop pollen counter is giving clinicians continuous local readings, improving how Vermont and New Hampshire track seasonal allergens. Workforce & EV Charging: AGC/VT backs a construction leadership academy, and Vermont AOT is seeking EV charging providers to expand public charging along key routes.

Space Weather: A bursty stretch of solar flares and coronal mass ejections is expected to hit Earth around July 3 and July 5, with a moderate geomagnetic storm and better-than-usual aurora chances. Public Health & Environment: Vermont officials warn tick activity is reaching a “new normal,” with ER/urgent care tick-bite visits running above prior-year averages and climate-linked risk rising. Energy & AI Infrastructure: The U.S. Department of Energy used emergency grid authority to force AI data centers onto diesel backup during peak-stress moments, underscoring how fast data-center load is straining power reliability. Local Science Tools: Dartmouth Hitchcock’s rooftop pollen counter is now providing continuous New England air-sampling data for clinicians in Vermont and beyond. Wildlife & Pollinators: Reports of “zombees” (honeybees infected by parasitic “zombie flies”) include Vermont among places with verified cases, raising new questions for backyard pollinator health. STEM Workforce: Vermont’s Agency of Transportation is seeking EV charging providers, while construction leaders back a new leadership academy to grow the skilled-trades pipeline.

AI & Power Grid: A U.S. Department of Energy emergency order forced PJM to push AI data centers onto diesel backup generators within 15 minutes—again—highlighting how fast new load is outpacing grid reliability and worsening air quality during peak heat. Public Health (Ticks): Vermont officials say tick activity is hitting a “new normal,” with ER and urgent care visits for tick bites running above recent averages and experts linking the rise to climate-driven tick expansion and more human contact. Public Health (Pollinators): A Vermont-linked report notes “zombee” cases—honeybees infected by parasitic “zombie flies”—as a possible cause of repeated bee deaths near porch lights. Transportation & Energy Infrastructure: Vermont’s Agency of Transportation is seeking qualified EV charging providers to expand public charging along key routes, with federal and state specs guiding future bids. Workforce Development: Associated General Contractors of Vermont and partners launched an AGC Vermont Leadership Academy to train construction leaders, pairing technical skills with mentorship and leadership development. Military Tech: BAE Systems delivered 19 cold-weather all-terrain vehicles, including the first for the Vermont National Guard’s Army Mountain Warfare School, boosting Arctic and mountain mobility.

AI & Power Grid: The U.S. Department of Energy used a wartime-era Federal Power Act emergency order for the third time this year to force AI data centers in the PJM grid to switch to diesel backup within 15 minutes, as heat-driven demand and data-center load strain reliability. Public Health: Vermont is seeing a tick season that officials call a “new normal,” with ER and urgent care visits for tick bites running above the 2017–2025 average and researchers linking the rise to climate and more tick-human contact. Local Environment & Wildlife: A Vermont Institute of Natural Science eagle cam continues to draw big attention, while a separate report highlights “zombie flies” as a likely cause behind “dead bee” sightings in Vermont and beyond. Transportation & Energy Infrastructure: Vermont Agency of Transportation is seeking EV charging providers to expand public charging along key routes. Workforce & Construction Tech: AGC Vermont’s Leadership Academy, backed by Northfield Savings Bank Foundation and paired with Vermont Works for Women, aims to train future construction leaders with hands-on, leadership-focused programming. Military Tech: BAE delivered 19 cold-weather tracked vehicles, including the first for the Vermont National Guard’s Army Mountain Warfare School. Health Policy: ACA enrollment is dropping as enhanced subsidies expire and premiums jump, with millions leaving coverage. Online Safety Policy: New guidance and debate are expanding children’s online privacy rules beyond data collection toward online safety and AI-generated imagery.

AI & Power Grid Pressure: A major U.S. heatwave is straining electricity and water systems, raising fresh concerns about the rapid buildout of AI data centers—especially in rural areas where residents worry about higher power bills and local impacts. Severe Weather Watch (VT in the mix): Forecasters warn millions across more than a dozen states, including Vermont, to prepare for Fourth of July thunderstorms, flash flooding, and damaging winds. Vermont Military Tech: BAE Systems delivered 19 Cold Weather All-Terrain Vehicles to the U.S. Army, including the first assigned to the Vermont National Guard’s Army Mountain Warfare School. Children’s Online Safety: New policy debates are expanding beyond kids’ privacy into online safety and AI-generated imagery, with COPPA and state laws all in the spotlight. Climate Liability: A new report finds climate-change lawsuits keep growing and shifting toward more mature legal fights, with the U.S. Supreme Court looming over key cases. Local Science & Community: The Vermont Historical Society opens “50 for 250,” telling Vermont’s 250th story through 50 rarely seen artifacts.

Coal Ash Rules: The EPA is proposing changes to federal coal-waste disposal rules that nearly 200 groups say would weaken safeguards and raise risks to water sources, including by easing closure requirements for older ash ponds. Suicide Prevention Tech: UVM Medical Center researcher Craig Bryan says a college-focused suicide prevention app (OTX-202/Aviva) is showing big reductions in suicidal thoughts and may make therapy more efficient. AI Data Centers & Rural Costs: A new survey finds rural Americans are especially worried AI data centers will drive up electricity bills and strain local land and water. Energy Storage Deal: Two Waterbury battery firms are changing hands—Kore Power is being bought by a Texas solar company, while NOMAD is going public and rebranding—signaling fast-moving grid demand. Solar Goes Space: Burlington’s Verde Technologies is shifting perovskite solar work toward powering orbital data centers, with a new CEO leading the push. Local Science & Community: A Quechee insect festival and a Milton library “frog, lizard, and/or snake” event highlight hands-on STEM for families. Healthcare Budget Pressure: Vermont hospital budgets are expected to be red-flagged, with major cuts looming at UVMMC as the state’s health system tries to control costs.

Energy & Industry: Two Waterbury battery firms changed hands as Kore Power was bought by Texas solar company T1, while NOMAD Transportable Power Systems is going public and rebranding as Nomad Power Solutions—signs of how fast Vermont’s storage market is shifting with rising power demand. Health Policy: UVM Health says it will suspend coverage of some weight-loss drugs for employees starting in September, aiming to save $19M a year while keeping coverage for diabetes. Infectious Disease: UVM researcher Peter Hyson secured a $150,000 Bay Area Lyme Foundation grant to test new treatments for rising babesiosis, a deer-tick blood parasite that’s surged in Vermont. Public Health & Climate: Vermont is seeing worsening tick activity this summer, with officials calling it a “new normal” tied to climate and more tick-human contact. Water & Ecosystems: New York DEC and the Canal Corporation updated their rapid response plan to stop round goby from spreading into the Lake Champlain Basin, including more use of environmental DNA. Local Tech/Science Education: Lakeland University students returned from a Belize rainforest research course, continuing the school’s long-running Tropical Ecology field program. Healthcare Workforce: SVMC CEO Estevan Garcia says the hospital plans to become a medical training facility with a new three-year family medicine residency in downtown Bennington. Community Tech & History: Shaftsbury launched a self-guided Revolutionary War cemetery tour using QR codes and digital profiles.

Public Health: Vermont is seeing a tick season that’s “the new normal,” with ER and urgent care visits for tick bites running above the 2017–25 average and officials linking the rise to climate change and more tick-human contact. Medical Research: UVM infectious-disease researcher Peter Hyson is testing potential new treatments for babesiosis after Vermont incidence reportedly surged 1,600% over the past decade, aiming for a therapy tailored to immunocompromised patients. Higher Ed Leadership: Vermont State University’s new president, Dr. Sherry Kollmann, officially begins her tenure, with an emphasis on enrollment growth and flexible learning pathways. Campus & Community Tech/Infrastructure: Champlain Valley School District is moving ahead with a controversial $5.7M artificial turf field plan at CVU despite resident concerns about environmental and health impacts. Energy & Climate Resilience: A warming climate could be pushing more Vermonters to adopt air conditioning, as the state’s historically low AC ownership rate collides with extreme heat warnings. STEM & Workforce: Vermont’s advanced manufacturing career pipeline gets a boost through VMEC’s “Launch Your Career” push. Policy & Data Centers: A Vermont data-center debate continues after a vetoed bill would have added new restrictions, with supporters arguing it would have limited jobs and tax revenue.

Higher Ed Leadership: Idaho’s State Board of Education voted to hire David Hahn as Boise State University’s new president, effective immediately, after a public review period for the sole finalist. University of Vermont System: Vermont State University officially welcomed Dr. Sherry Kollmann as president, with an enrollment growth push across online, hybrid, and campus programs. Campus & Community Tech/Facilities: Champlain Valley School District advanced a $5.7M artificial turf field project at CVU despite resident concerns about environmental and health impacts. Clean Water Planning: Vermont DEC is seeking public comment on a draft five-year Tactical Basin Plan for the Batten Kill, Walloomsac, and Hoosic River basin, with a July 31 deadline. Climate & Energy Access: A report highlights Vermont’s historically low air-conditioning ownership and warns warming summers may force more households to adopt cooling. Mobility Safety: Local Motion urges Vermont to focus on regulating and enforcing rules for higher-speed e-motos, not e-bikes, as safety concerns rise. Public Health & Food Security: Vermont’s SNAP enrollment fell after federal work requirements; advocates say it’s the biggest drop in decades. Forest Health: UVM research finds natural causes now drive more tree deaths than logging across the Northeast, with insects, disease, and extreme weather leading. Workforce Housing: Vermont’s farmworker-housing program is helping cover repairs and replacements for worker homes, easing a long-running rural housing bottleneck.

Vermont Tech & Industry: Beta Technologies says it’s planning a 100-acre expansion in South Burlington to bring more large components manufacturing in-house and grow technician training capacity. Broadband & Digital Access: NEK Broadband opened the Groton Connectivity HUB, a USDA-funded community technology center aimed at expanding fiber access and giving rural residents a place for remote work, telehealth, education, and tech support. Advanced Manufacturing Workforce: Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) and River Valley Technical Center announced a free July 2 open house and a CNC Boot Camp in July for entry-level advanced manufacturing training. Ag Robotics: UVM Extension is demoing driverless weeding robots for Vermont farmers, using drone mapping to guide robots through fields and reduce labor strain. Environment & Tech in Forestry: A UVM study finds natural causes now drive more tree deaths than logging across the Northeast, with insects, disease, and extreme weather leading the shift. Policy & Science: Vermont’s new July 1 laws include tighter ticket resale rules and a paraquat weed-killer ban taking effect Nov. 1, with farm exceptions through 2030.

Extreme Heat Preparedness: Burlington and Vermont are bracing for an Extreme Heat Warning July 1–3, with heat indexes near 106°F and cooling sites open across the city. Energy-Efficient Housing: Vermont is rolling out “Advanced Manufactured Homes” that are all-electric and heat-pump ready, cutting energy use by more than half versus typical new manufactured homes, with incentives for builders. Public Health & Policy: Millions are dropping ACA coverage as premiums rise and enhanced subsidies expire, while a new study links hearing aids with lower dementia risk in people with epilepsy. Food Safety Research: UVM researchers report new findings on how intestinal cells starve Salmonella of key nutrients, pointing to new ways to treat food-borne infections. Vermont Tech & Industry: Scutum North America expands in North America by integrating a Vermont-based UL fire-approved monitoring station, and a Vermont Prize goes to animator Travis Van Alstyne for short films rooted in local stories. Climate & Agriculture: UVM Extension is studying whether irrigation is worth the cost as climate change brings hotter, drier stretches between bigger downpours. Local Learning: Twin Valley schools are highlighting new academic options for families amid regional school closures.

Northern Lights Watch: NOAA forecasts a G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm from a June 26 solar eruption, with auroras potentially visible across up to 19 states, including Vermont, if skies cooperate. Vermont Health Tech: UVM’s Stephen T. Higgins won an NIDA award to test a smartphone-based rewards program to help pregnant people quit smoking, aiming for a future FDA digital intervention. Privacy & Health Data: Vermont’s new Data Privacy and Online Surveillance Act (effective 2028) adds extra rules for consumer health data, including privacy notices, limits on collection, and higher-risk processing assessments. Public Health Science: Vermont officials shared guidance on spotting cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms and what to do to protect people and pets. Agriculture Under Climate Stress: UVM Extension is studying whether pasture irrigation is worth the cost as hotter, drier stretches and heavier downpours become more common. Local Tech/Policy: Vermont police license-plate surveillance reportedly used an out-of-state camera loophole despite state limits. AI Policy: Bernie Sanders unveiled a plan for public ownership of half of the largest AI companies via a sovereign wealth fund funded by a one-time 50% tax on AI stock. Business/Industry: Peak Processing expanded into the US THC beverage market with a Fryday Kush manufacturing deal.

Space Weather: A minor G1 geomagnetic storm could make the northern lights visible in Vermont tonight, with best viewing typically between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Public Health & Water Safety: Vermont officials are urging people to learn how to spot cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms and avoid contact with affected water and pets. Toxic Metals & Kids’ Brains: New research using baby teeth is highlighting when infants may be most vulnerable to heavy metals like lead—pushing for stronger federal protections. PFAS & Turf Field Debate: A Chittenden Valley School District decision on an artificial field hinges on a study about PFAS leaching, but opponents question the conclusions and raise broader policy concerns. Privacy & Policing: Vermont lawmakers tried to curb license plate surveillance, but reporting says police used a national-camera loophole to keep tracking people across state lines. Energy & Environment Policy: Vermont AG Kwame Raoul joined other attorneys general opposing EPA moves to weaken coal ash rules tied to serious health risks. Regional Tech/Business: Southwestern Vermont’s Chamber Foundation launched InvestInSouthwest.org as a digital hub for investors and workforce opportunities. Leadership in Tech-Adjacent Industry: Scotts Miracle-Gro named Nate Baxter CEO and Pete Shumlin board chair after Jim Hagedorn stepped down.

Vermont Paraquat Ban: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, a weedkiller tied to Parkinson’s disease, with a phase-out that gives farmers exceptions through 2030. School Turf PFAS Debate: The Chittenden Valley School District board is set to revisit a proposed $6M artificial field at CVU, after a study suggested PFAS leaching is unlikely—though opponents and scientists dispute the conclusions. Emergency Tech Recognition: INDIGITAL’s MEVO next-gen 911 platform earned recognition for keeping 911 call handling running during major disasters, including hurricane outages, using satellite-enabled backup options. Climate Courts Shift: New research says the Trump administration is reshaping climate litigation—boosting federal anti-climate suits while also triggering a surge of outside legal challenges defending state climate actions, including Vermont-related efforts. AI in Vermont Higher Ed: Middlebury College research finds students often use AI as an augmentation tool rather than full automation, with some AI uses linked to better long-term learning. Privacy vs Policing: Vermont lawmakers tried to curb license-plate surveillance, but VTDigger reports police used an out-of-state camera network loophole for more than 100 searches since 2023. Local STEM Programs: Twin Valley Middle High School plans new academic programs, including an Academy of Arts, Communication & Entrepreneurship, plus expanded dual enrollment options. Wetland Plant Update: The northeastern bulrush is set to be delisted as federally endangered after population gains—but researchers warn threats like habitat loss and low genetic diversity remain.

Electric aviation in Vermont: Beta Technologies is laying out a near-100-acre campus expansion in South Burlington, pitching a more flexible “adaptive” planning approach to keep up with rapid industry changes. Workforce development: Springfield Rotary welcomed Paul Dana of The Manufacturing Collaborative, highlighting partnerships that connect students and job seekers to advanced manufacturing careers across Vermont. Education + engineering for kids: A Cavendish Fletcher Community Library Destination Imagination team won Vermont’s Technical Challenge and is headed to global finals after building a music-playing dragon concept. AI in the classroom: Middlebury College research finds most students use AI as an augmentation tool, with some AI uses boosting long-term learning—not just short-term grades. Privacy vs. policing: Vermont lawmakers tried to curb license-plate surveillance, but reporting says police used an out-of-state camera network loophole to run more than 100 searches since 2023. Public health + trust: A University of Idaho study links higher trust in public health institutions to better COVID-avoidance behavior, underscoring the role of clear messaging. Healthcare leadership: NBC5 in Depth profiles major leadership transitions at UVM Health’s Children’s Hospital, including pediatric chief changes and retirements.