AGP Executive Report

Nuclear Power Deal: Google signed a 20-year, $4.3B agreement with Constellation Energy for 890MW of upgraded nuclear output, with first deliveries expected in 2028—part of the AI power rush and tied to upgrades at plants in Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Grid & Energy Policy: Some state leaders are pushing back on whether PJM’s electric grid governance changes go far enough as data centers and AI demand surge. Data Centers & Local Impact: A new coalition of AI firms, labor unions, and investors is urging “guardrails” for data center growth in states including Pennsylvania, aiming to counter local moratoriums. Skill Games Crackdown: Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court-driven deadline is driving enforcement planning: skill games are treated like slot machines, with businesses facing removal by mid-October. Consumer & Retail: Wawa tied Sheetz for top convenience-store satisfaction spots nationally and led in the Northeast; separately, PepsiCo recalled 122,000 cases of Gatorade over undeclared dyes. Construction & Logistics: A. Duie Pyle opened a new Camp Hill warehouse to create a fully integrated logistics center. Health & Workplace: HR groups in western Pennsylvania are hosting a program on chronic stress and brain performance. Kratom Regulation: The state House unanimously advanced a bill to regulate kratom sales, including age limits, packaging rules, and bans on synthetic products.

Data Centers Backlash: A new wave of polling shows Americans’ opposition to AI data centers hardening into hostility, with concerns centered on water and power demands—putting billions in projects at risk. AI Policy & Compliance: OpenAI says it’s adding “invisible” text watermarks for ChatGPT and Codex in the EU to meet AI Act transparency rules. Energy & Grid: Pennsylvania’s push to expand reliable power and broadband continues, including $448M+ in BEAD funding for high-speed internet access. Public Health: Pennsylvania has surpassed 1,000 measles cases, the largest outbreak in decades, as vaccination gaps drive spread. Water Infrastructure: Jim Thorpe Borough is moving toward probe-based lead service line detection to avoid disruptive digging, while also advancing plans for backup test wells. Manufacturing/Ag Tech: Penn State broke ground on a $65M animal diagnostic lab expansion aimed at faster disease prevention and protection of the food supply. State Regulation: The PA Senate advanced a PFAS firefighting foam ban bill, and the House unanimously passed a kratom regulation bill that bans synthetic compounds. Food Safety: FDA recalls expanded for 122,000+ cases of Gatorade over undeclared dyes, with impacts across multiple states. Business & Growth: Westinghouse is seeking higher royalties for Korean reactor work in the U.S., signaling tougher nuclear licensing negotiations ahead.

Nuclear Finance: Vistra is in line for about $4B in new federal loans to uprate 433 MW across Perry and Davis-Besse in Ohio and Beaver Valley in Pennsylvania, as Washington’s nuclear lending push continues. Defense Manufacturing: BAE Systems won a $230.1M Marine Corps contract modification for 32 ACV-R recovery vehicles moving into full rate production, with York, Pa. set to do most of the work through 2028. Data Centers & Power: A new wave of state oversight is shifting data center site selection from “find power” to a three-way fight over grid costs, water transparency, and local land-use control, while Swatara Township residents get a chance to grill a developer behind $10.5B data centers. Food Safety: FDA recall coverage hit Pennsylvania consumers again as PepsiCo recalled 122,000 cases of Gatorade over undeclared dyes, and frozen berry recalls expanded due to possible E. coli. Local Business/Industry: Fragasso Financial Advisors rebranded as Fragasso Wealth Advisors, and Handel’s Ice Cream opened in Havertown. Life Sciences: Kymanox launched KymaBridge to help pharma and biotech teams compare drug delivery device tech faster.

Broadband Rollout: Gov. Josh Shapiro and PBDA announced $448M in BEAD grants to expand high-speed internet across 50 Pennsylvania counties, cutting the number of unserved households from 330,000 (2022) to under 133,000. AI Policy & Power: President Trump named DNI Jay Clayton to lead a new “Super Intelligence Force,” with FTC chair Andrew Ferguson and Defense R&D officials among the team—aimed at coordinating federal AI efforts. Manufacturing Jobs: Kerry Group opened its first Pennsylvania manufacturing site, a Bethlehem coffee facility, to supply coffee flavors and extracts for ready-to-drink and other products. Food Safety: The CDC reported an alfalfa sprout outbreak now at 76 illnesses across 16 states, while FDA recall notices expanded for frozen berry products sold in Pennsylvania, including Trader Joe’s and Walmart Great Value. Workforce Training: Erie County Community College highlighted its welding program as demand grows, with students getting hands-on practice tied to real industry needs. Healthcare Consolidation: UPMC took over CommonSpirit Trinity Health System’s eastern Ohio hospitals, creating UPMC Trinity and raising questions for patients about care logistics. Data Center Backlash: A new wave of local opposition is pushing Pennsylvania lawmakers to address data center siting, electricity costs, and community impacts.

Trade Policy Shock: Trump’s escalating trade war with Canada is set to hit Pennsylvania’s manufacturing and agricultural supply chains, with tariffs and import bans raising the odds of higher costs and delayed investment ahead of the midterms. Data Center Governance: Ransom Township supervisors are poised to vote on a data center zoning ordinance after litigation tied to Scranton Materials’ proposed quarry campus, keeping the fight over local rules and state land-use requirements front and center. Local Economic Pressure: A Fortune report spotlights a Pennsylvania mountain-town data center incentive plan offering $10,000 per eligible household, fueling backlash and right-to-know scrutiny over who benefits and whether Amazon is involved. Consumer Safety: The FDA expanded a frozen-berry recall over possible E. coli contamination, including Great Value and Trader Joe’s products sold in Pennsylvania. Transportation & Jobs: Amtrak says it expects to add a second daily Pittsburgh-to-New York trip in mid-November, a major service expansion for Western Pennsylvania. Tech & Policy: A Pennsylvania bill would require game publishers to give notice and offer remedies if online access to digital games is revoked or shut down. Energy & Infrastructure: Shapiro’s administration announced more than $448 million in BEAD funding to expand affordable high-speed internet access statewide.

Data Centers & Power Demand: Pennsylvania’s utility regulator moved closer to stronger consumer protections against data-center impacts, as the state weighs how to balance AI growth with grid strain. Manufacturing Expansion: Magnet Applications (Bunting Magnetics) is expanding in DuBois, buying a 40,000-square-foot plant to boost domestic magnet output. Food Safety: Walmart and Trader Joe’s frozen berry recall expanded after an E. coli outbreak sickened 17 people, adding more lots of Great Value and Trader Joe’s products. Housing & Cost Pressure: A new report highlights Pennsylvania’s housing shortage—only two new homes per 1,000 people in 2025—while affordability pressures keep worsening. Education & Workforce: A statewide survey says youth mental health and school safety are improving, with declining depression and suicide-risk indicators. Policy Watch (Digital Entertainment): A Pennsylvania proposal would require game makers to give notice and offer offline play, updates, or refunds if online access is removed. Ag & Rural Economy: U.S. rulemaking is underway that could roll back protections in the Allegheny National Forest’s roadless areas, with a public comment deadline looming.

Death Penalty Scrutiny: Tennessee’s botched Christa Pike execution is triggering fresh legal fights over lethal-injection drug use, likely boosting appeals in capital cases. Utility Relief: Dollar Energy Fund opened its 2026-27 hardship applications to help Pennsylvania households avoid utility shutoffs, with demand up sharply in recent program years. Ag Policy & Labor: U.S. House Ag Chair GT Thompson (PA) highlighted farm risk management and the Agriculture Workforce Act/H-2A visa push at an ag forum. Food Safety: USDA recalled 4,500+ pounds of imported ready-to-eat chicken stew shipped to Pennsylvania after missed reinspection. Healthcare Costs: Rhode Island Medicaid will stop covering certain GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, joining other states including Pennsylvania in tightening obesity drug coverage. Pennsylvania Business Regulation: A House panel advanced a bill to regulate kratom sales with age limits, packaging rules, and bans on certain adulterated products. Data Center Backlash: A new report argues opposition to data centers is growing and that forcing projects on unwilling communities can worsen the problem. Public Health: Pennsylvania reported a fifth measles-related death as cases near 1,000, with most cases unvaccinated or unknown. Construction/Local Economy: St. Luke’s opened a $252M heart hospital at its Anderson campus, a major Lehigh Valley expansion.

Data Centers & Grid Reliability: The Pennsylvania Utility Commission advanced a tentative order aimed at tightening how utilities handle power shortages, including limiting cuts to large data-center users that haven’t secured enough electricity and pushing back on how they’re classified during emergencies. Broadband Buildout: Gov. Josh Shapiro announced $448M in BEAD grants for 41 projects across 50 counties, including $29M for Centre and Mifflin, to expand affordable, reliable high-speed internet. Nuclear for AI Demand: The U.S. plans about $4B in loans for Vistra to upgrade three nuclear plants in Ohio and Pennsylvania to meet surging PJM demand from data centers. Skill Games Deadline: Pennsylvania’s safe harbor for skill games ends Oct. 13, with State Police warning of seizures and possible enforcement; lawmakers are weighing licensing and fee proposals. Pharma Cost & Competition: Iowa moved toward court approval of a $400M Sandoz settlement over alleged generic-drug price manipulation, while a separate settlement with Monsanto over PCB contamination highlights ongoing state enforcement on environmental harm. Food Costs Pressure: A new report notes rising grocery prices are driving more families toward food banks, pantries, and SNAP.

Energy & Defense Infrastructure: The U.S. Army is awarding conditional long-term land leases for resilient power projects at six installations, including Letterkenny Army Depot (Pennsylvania) and Tobyhanna Army Depot (Pennsylvania), with plans ranging from battery storage to fuel cells and microreactors. Grid & Data Centers: Amazon says it’s stopping the use of nondisclosure agreements with local officials tied to data center deals, while also pledging $1B over five years for community college, workforce training, and energy-efficiency upgrades. Consumer & Health Costs: Pennsylvania Attorney General Fitch is urging consumers to check eligibility for compensation from the generic drug settlement, as multistate distribution plans move forward. Manufacturing Spotlight: Channellock is teaming with W.R. Case & Sons and Zippo to mark Manufacturing Day with a limited edition set. Food Safety: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture inspection reports show both passes and a notable fail at Harvest Lancaster tied to handwashing and raw-to-ready-to-eat handling issues. Local Business Growth: Chicken Salad Chick announced new Northeast development momentum, including a Pennsylvania opening in the Lehigh Valley.

Data Centers & Power: CoreWeave CEO Brian Venturo says GPU demand will keep the AI boom strong through 2027, pushing back on claims that power limits and local opposition will slow projects. Energy Policy: States and cities, including Pennsylvania’s governor, sued the Trump administration over EPA’s repeal of coal-and-gas power plant emissions limits. Utilities in Pennsylvania: The PA Public Utility Commission approved a settlement that cuts UGI Gas Division’s requested rate changes by nearly 35% while adding customer-service, income-qualified programs, and gas-safety measures. Industrial Finance: Quaker Houghton closed a $550M 7-year Term Loan B refinancing, extending maturities and reducing near-term debt payments. Legal/Consumer Costs: A coalition of AGs sought court approval for a $400M nationwide Sandoz settlement over alleged generic-drug price-fixing and reduced competition. Workforce/Immigration: USCIS reported 66 H-2B manufacturing approvals in North Dakota (100% rate) for fiscal 2026 through June 30. PennDOT: PennDOT opened a public survey on construction and maintenance customer satisfaction through Oct. 20.

Energy & AI Infrastructure: Amazon-backed upgrades are set to boost Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs nuclear output by about 10% after a deal with Constellation, a reminder that AI power demand is reshaping regional generation plans. Solar Finance: CleanChoice Energy closed about $166M in financing for two solar projects, including a Pennsylvania Kylertown site (~28MWdc) targeting commercial operation in 2027. Manufacturing Supply Chains: Pantheon Electric hit 33% recycled copper companywide, anchored by its Leetsdale, Pa. facility, as electrification and AI strain raw copper availability. Consumer & Retail: Montgomery County prosecutors charged 46 businesses over alleged illegal THC products, including gummies reportedly topping 1,000 mg. Local Economy & Housing: A stalled Pittsburgh Hazelwood housing project is spotlighted as a test of whether development can avoid displacement. Business Growth: Assurance Financial added a Greensburg, Pa. mortgage team. Food & Beverage Industry: Kerry opened a coffee extraction facility in Bethlehem, expanding premium coffee processing capacity for East Coast customers. Higher Ed & Tech: Ken Griffin’s $3B CMU gift ties Pittsburgh roots to a new Miami campus. Labor Market: Pennsylvania released August regional unemployment data, with the Philadelphia-area rate at 4%.

Generic Drug Antitrust: Wyoming AG Keith Kautz urged Pennsylvanians to file claims tied to a multistate settlement over alleged generic-drug price conspiracies, with eligibility tied to purchases from May 2009–Dec. 2019. Data Center Power Fight: A Senate vote blocked a bill aimed at shifting more grid-infrastructure costs for large data centers away from ratepayers, keeping the political pressure on AI buildouts. THC Crackdown: Montgomery County charged 46 businesses for selling illegal THC products after an undercover investigation, setting up preliminary hearings and potential license consequences. Water Planning: The Delaware River Basin Commission released a drought-readiness screening report for key Pennsylvania tributaries used for drinking water, power, and industry. Diesel Squeeze on Farms: Record diesel prices are raising costs for Pennsylvania harvest operations, with farmers warning that everything—from inputs to transport—gets hit. Manufacturing Deal: Gladstone Investment closed its acquisition of Irwin’s Extrude Hone, a precision finishing supplier serving aerospace, automotive, and heavy industry. Higher Ed & Tech: Carnegie Mellon announced a major Miami campus push backed by a $3B Ken Griffin gift, with major funding also earmarked for Pittsburgh and computer science. Public Health/Health Care: Independence Blue Cross agreed to a $22.5M Medicare Advantage risk-adjustment settlement over alleged inaccurate diagnoses.

Affordability Pressure: A new campaign says 7 in 10 Pennsylvanians are squeezed by rising costs, with pop-up “feels the squeeze” stops in Langhorne, Harrisburg, Scranton and Bethlehem highlighting gas, groceries, health care and child care. Food & Safety: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture restaurant inspection updates show a mix of passes and targeted corrections, including temperature-control and sanitation issues. Energy Costs & Equity: A report says utility bill assistance programs are funded only by residential customers, pushing costs onto ratepayers as energy prices rise—while businesses and factories argue they shouldn’t pay. Gaming Crackdown: Pennsylvania’s AG moves to require “skill games” devices be removed by Oct. 14, setting up enforcement and a major policy fight for small operators. Data Centers Backlash: A national look at growing opposition notes communities are pushing back over energy, land and price impacts, while tech and unions form alliances to counter moratoriums. Manufacturing & Workforce: The Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association event spotlights workforce development priorities tied to classroom training and pre-apprenticeship pathways. Local Industry Spotlight: Wellsburg’s 47th Applefest returns this weekend, celebrating the region’s apple heritage.

Human Trafficking Enforcement: Pennsylvania lawmakers are building momentum in Harrisburg after Gov. Josh Shapiro signed new measures, including hospitality staff training and tougher penalties for child trafficking, with the AG’s office expanding investigative authority. Trade & Energy Costs: Rep. Mike Kelly visited Erie to discuss U.S.-Canada trade tensions as Washington moves to ban certain Canadian imports, while he notes gas prices are largely driven by global market forces. Roadwork & Construction Feedback: PennDOT is asking residents for input on construction and maintenance performance through Oct. 20, including how people use 511PA and how often they report concerns. Manufacturing Expansion: DrinkPAK’s $195M Philadelphia buildout in the Bellwether District is progressing, targeting at least 174 new jobs and strengthening East Coast canned beverage manufacturing. Data Privacy & Breach Claims: Edelson Lechtzin is investigating multiple breach-related class actions tied to Bee, Bergvall & Co. and United Underwriters, urging affected people to seek free case evaluations. Gaming Compliance: Pa. AG Dave Sunday is warning businesses to remove “skill games” devices by Oct. 14 or face prosecution and seizures after the state Supreme Court ruling. Invasive Species Watch: Spotted lanternfly is deepening its foothold in the Finger Lakes, raising pressure on regional vineyards and fruit growers. Cybersecurity: Reporting highlights the ShinyHunters hacking group’s claims involving sensitive FBI data, underscoring ongoing breach risks for institutions. Infrastructure Work: PennDOT says a Route 879 bridge rehabilitation contractor will mobilize soon, with limited traffic impacts expected around late September into early October.

Geothermal Policy Push: InnerSpace Action named Drew Nelson executive director to expand geothermal advocacy after legislative wins in six states, including Pennsylvania. Gaming Compliance: Pa. AG Dave Sunday urged businesses to remove “skill games” terminals by Oct. 14 or face seizure and possible criminal charges after a Supreme Court ruling. Downtown Revitalization: Harrisburg officials unveiled a $64M plan to upgrade streets, storefronts, and the riverfront, aiming to spur local business activity. Automation in Higher Ed: EDMO released a 2026 report showing admissions still relies heavily on manual transcript/credit review, with staffing and fraud concerns rising. Skilled Trades Pipeline: New Pig pledged $20,000 to The Rivet at Discovery Space to bring handheld laser welding training to Central Pennsylvania makers. AI + Public Safety: OMNIQ’s Q Shield™ Safe City platform launched in Pennsylvania via two municipal agreements for vehicle registration enforcement. AI Infrastructure Deals: Axe Compute reported $184M in customer prepayments and $266M in new AI infrastructure contracts since its last update. Data Center Backlash Fight: A coalition of Big Tech, unions, and private equity is pushing state standards to head off data-center moratoriums, including in Pennsylvania. Manufacturing/Industry Support: NWIRC in Erie is set to benefit from a federal NIST-linked grant supporting small- and mid-sized manufacturers.

Data Centers & Power: Archbald is holding back-to-back hearings on a 400-megawatt natural gas power plant and seven data centers, with residents pushing for more detailed plans before approvals. AI Infrastructure Pushback: A coalition of AI firms, private equity and unions is forming the American Infrastructure Alliance to set data-center standards in 2027 across states including Pennsylvania, aiming to blunt local moratoriums. Local Deals & Community Resistance: A developer offered $10,000 checks to households to win support for a Hazle Township mega data center, but many residents say they’ll still oppose the project. Consumer & Fraud Enforcement: Pennsylvania’s AG Tim Griffin kicked off a Fraud and Consumer Protection Summit with 800+ registrants, covering scams, price gouging, robocalls and AI deepfakes. Retail/Manufacturing Compliance: USDA recalled 4,596 pounds of ready-to-eat Korean chicken stew distributed in eight states, citing import inspection issues. Food Safety & Agriculture: Turkey disease reports at an avian pathology meeting described E. cecorum abscesses and flock culling after spinal lesions. Policy Watch: Pennsylvania lawmakers face a tight window to regulate skill games after a state Supreme Court ruling could trigger seizures.