AGP Executive Report

Data Centers & Power Costs: Virginia regulators ordered data centers to pay for new transmission infrastructure, adding fuel to the backlash over electricity and water strain as residents and lawmakers push for tighter limits. State Energy Oversight: The SCC also directed Dominion to develop a policy shifting transmission costs to data centers, while Gov. Spanberger said she’ll intervene in the Dominion-NextEra merger, citing rate and job concerns. Legal Fight Over Transmission: Valley Link opponents are gearing up for a potential court battle after the SCC review of the proposed 765-kilovolt line, with organizers urging residents to build a strong record now. Drought Relief for Farmers: USDA expanded Virginia’s primary natural disaster area designations for drought, including Bland, Craig, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke and Russell, opening more assistance for local farms. Public Health Leadership: Erica Schwartz was confirmed as the next CDC director, taking over an agency facing distrust and political pressure. Workforce & Industry: HII signed performance-based production agreements with Path Robotics and GrayMatter Robotics to accelerate advanced automation across U.S. Navy shipbuilding. Local Business & Community: Charlottesville’s Holiday Dr. homeless shelter progress moved toward an emergency opening Sept. 1, with staffing and operating costs now in focus.

Data Centers & Grid Costs: Virginia’s State Corporation Commission ordered data centers to pay for dedicated new transmission infrastructure, a move Spanberger says could save ratepayers “hundreds of millions of dollars,” as residents keep pushing back over power bills and local impacts. Local Legal Fight Over Power Line: Loudoun County School Board asked the Virginia Supreme Court for permission to file another reply in its bid to halt Dominion’s Golden-to-Mars Route 3A line across school property while the appeal plays out. Community Pushback on Development: Henry County residents packed a supervisors meeting opposing data centers, citing water use, noise, environmental effects, and long-term farmland impacts; Wythe County also released a draft zoning ordinance as data-center plans reshape local debate. Energy Policy Ripple Effects: Across the country, Texas Gov. Abbott paused new data center approvals pending audits, while regulators and lawmakers elsewhere weigh how to spread grid costs fairly. Food Safety: A salmonella outbreak tied to Sinaloa jalapeños has sickened people in 27 states; Chipotle and Qdoba removed the peppers. Workforce & Education: JMU professor Philip Frana says employers want AI literacy plus human judgment, warning against “cognitive offloading.” Public Health & Consumer: Virginia hemp businesses sued over a new THC retail restriction set to take effect Aug. 15.

VDOT Roundabout Build: Pulaski County is starting a single-lane roundabout at Route 611/643/1120, with road realignments, drainage work, and a Route 1120 access shift beginning Aug. 17; flaggers will run weekdays with peak-hour pauses. Advanced Manufacturing Jobs: Virginia Steel and Fabrication will invest $3.6M in Bland County to automate and expand, creating 52 new jobs. Grid & Data Center Pressure: Loudoun supervisors delayed Dominion’s Golden Substation vote to Sept. 1, seeking better screening and landscaping for the 500-kilovolt facility. Transmission Line Reconsideration: Two Loudoun-area lawmakers asked the Virginia SCC to revisit Dominion’s Golden-to-Mars Route 606 alternative after new federal-property discussions. Drought Relief for Farmers: USDA expanded Ninth District primary natural disaster designations, adding Bland, Craig, Floyd, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke and Russell for drought assistance. Cybersecurity for Water Systems: The FBI urged water utilities to boost defenses after a wave of cyberattacks across multiple states. Public Safety Campaign: Virginia DMV launched its first cannabis-impaired driving prevention effort, “Relaxxxxx, Don’t Drive High.” Broadband Expansion: Henry County selected ZiTel to replace RiverStreet Networks and finish its countywide broadband build. Defense Innovation: ONR will host Innovation Industry Days Sept. 21–25 in Arlington to match industry with Navy/Marine Corps tech needs. Naval Shipbuilding Automation: HII and Ingalls advanced intelligent welding automation pilots tied to U.S. Navy production. Local Infrastructure Funding: Henrico County is set to receive about $99M for 26 transportation projects under VDOT’s Six-Year Improvement Program.

Data Centers & Power Policy: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a pause on new data center grid connections, directing audits of planned projects after ERCOT warned demand could double by 2032—about 90% tied to data centers—while local opposition grows. Virginia Politics: Virginia Democrats picked establishment nominees in key House primaries, with Shannon Taylor set to challenge Rob Wittman in VA-1 and Elaine Luria winning VA-2 for a rematch with Jen Kiggans. Local Infrastructure & Safety: Fairfax County is seeing pedestrian and vulnerable road user deaths at alarming levels, renewing pressure for faster roadway fixes. Energy & Community Pushback: U.S. Rep. Don Beyer asked Fairfax planners to deny Dominion’s Edsall Rd substation permit tied to a nearby data center campus, arguing the scale is incompatible with surrounding neighborhoods. Tech & Research: George Mason University computer scientist Ziyu Yao won an NSF CAREER grant to improve how AI code-generation models can be interpreted and made safer. Defense & Industry: HII expanded welding automation at Ingalls Shipbuilding through a partnership with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Data Centers & Energy Policy: Virginia’s data-center politics stayed hot as Botetourt County moved to create an independent commission to assess a proposed Google campus, while other coverage highlighted how developers are paying “impossible prices” for land in Northern Virginia and how housing affordability is getting squeezed. Regulatory & Community Impact: Texas signaled a broader slowdown by pausing new data-center construction pending audits of power and water use, a move that mirrors growing scrutiny over noise, grid strain, and groundwater. Trade & Tariffs: A coalition of 25 states, including Virginia, sued the Trump administration over new “forced-labor” tariffs, arguing they’re a workaround after the Supreme Court struck down earlier tariff authority. Cyber & Identity Protection: Lawmakers pushed to extend lifetime identity protection for OPM breach victims as coverage also flagged ongoing cyber-security workforce gaps. Agriculture & Wildlife: USDA awarded Virginia funding to expand the state’s Elk Management Zone, including reclaimed mining land. Local Business: K9 Resorts announced a new Sterling, Va. pet hotel opening this fall.

Virginia Defense & Shipbuilding: The U.S. Navy is reclassifying 19 planned Virginia-class submarines with the Virginia Payload Module from “fast-attack” to “guided missile” boats, reflecting expanded strike capacity. AI Infrastructure & Data Centers: Virginia’s data-center boom keeps colliding with community pushback—residents and local officials are questioning power, water, noise, and heat impacts, while developers argue the projects are essential for the AI economy. Tariffs in Court: A coalition of 25 states, including Virginia, sued the Trump administration over new tariffs, calling them an illegal pretext to replace taxes struck down by the Supreme Court. Energy & Offshore Wind: Dominion Energy says its Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project is past 80% and is generating power, but the completion target slips to end-2027. Agriculture & Rural Health: RFK Jr. toured a Danville hydroponics lab studying how to boost micronutrients without chemicals, aiming to improve rural access to healthier food. Public Safety: Loudoun County investigators say copper wire was stolen from a data center construction site; three suspects were arrested and two remain at large.

Data Center Power Costs in Virginia: A new client alert explains Virginia’s HB 30 compromise: it keeps the sales tax exemption for data centers but adds a first-of-its-kind energy consumption tax of $0.011 per kilowatt-hour, effective July 1 and set to expire after the two-year budget cycle, alongside broader energy affordability steps. Grid & Ratepayer Pressure: Dominion Energy says it has added more than 5GW of contracted data center load to its pipeline and notes rare grid disturbances tied to data center disconnects, raising the stakes for how utilities and regulators allocate upgrade costs. Groundwater Scrutiny: Two Virginia state senators are pushing for a special session after a DEQ report warned newer industries like data centers could strain groundwater, citing potential withdrawals of millions of gallons per day. Local Industry Hit: Virginia-based Smith-Midland won a $1.7M contract to make precast utility vaults for a Louisiana data center project, underscoring how Virginia suppliers are feeding the buildout. Workforce & Training: Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom is accepting grant applications (up to $500) to fund hands-on ag learning for the 2026-27 school year, with a deadline of Oct. 13. Tech Talent Shift: Coverage from VCU and other campuses highlights a growing push for AI literacy minors as entry-level software hiring cools and employers demand basic AI skills.

Data Centers in Virginia: A Virginia state senator is pushing for an immediate moratorium on data center approvals and development, arguing the state is still figuring out environmental, health, and power-grid rules as residents demand answers. Energy Costs: Utilities are seeking major rate hikes nationwide, and the report suggests most consumers won’t see relief soon—fueling pressure to target large energy users like data centers. AI Workforce & Education: At Virginia Commonwealth University and other colleges, the AI boom is reshaping hiring expectations and driving more students into AI literacy, including minors and new requirements outside computer science. Construction & Tech Jobs: UVA is tied to biomedical research grants, while broader coverage highlights how AI is pulling more companies into construction and engineering work. Regional Business Spotlight: A Delmarva engineering and consulting firm was selected for a national Bloomberg Television/CNBC segment, spotlighting its growth across Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and beyond. Public Safety: A fiery two-vehicle crash on the George Washington Parkway left two people critically injured, with the incident under investigation.

AI & Industry Events: Ai4 2026 opens Tuesday in Las Vegas with Geoffrey Hinton and Andrew Ng headlining, as the enterprise AI conversation shifts from pilots to governing and auditing agent decisions. Public Safety: Two people were critically hurt in a fiery, two-vehicle crash on Arlington’s George Washington Parkway early Sunday; investigators are still sorting out what happened. Housing & Development: Transwestern plans about 69 townhomes at 375/475 M St. SW, with 15% affordable under DC inclusionary zoning, while the Long Bridge project continues with utility relocations and major ramp impacts into 2028. Health: Virginia’s cyclospora count rose to 126 cases, tied to recalled Marketside iceberg lettuce sold at Walmart. Life Sciences: UVA is involved in three Virginia Catalyst grants totaling $2.4M for biomedical products and research. Energy Policy: Virginia re-enters RGGI, adding an estimated $13/month bill charge while channeling allowance revenue into energy-efficiency programs. Agriculture & Food: Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom is accepting educator grant applications (up to $500) ahead of the Oct. 13 deadline, and National Farmers Market Week runs Aug. 2–8. Workforce & Tech: A Virginia training push highlights how data center demand is pulling people into skilled trade careers.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Virginia regulators are revisiting who pays when data centers trigger expensive transmission upgrades, with residents in Prince William County saying they’ve been stuck with the bill for years while Dominion seeks billions in new grid costs. Water Stress: A new Virginia DEQ groundwater report warns aquifers east of I-95 are constrained and could struggle with additional industrial withdrawals, prompting calls for a special session to rein in use. State Energy Planning: Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s administration is gathering public input on a new 10-year energy roadmap aimed at hitting 2045 net-zero goals, with a public meeting set in Petersburg. Moratorium Push: Virginia lawmakers are backing a statewide data center moratorium as concerns grow over water, electricity, and grid reliability after recent high-profile power disruptions. Local Transparency Fight: In Franklin County, residents are pressing for answers about “Project Flash,” citing FOIA-linked records and alleged NDA-driven secrecy around zoning discussions. Workforce & Training: A guest perspective argues Virginia should include skilled workers in the data center debate, while broader coverage highlights tech firms funding electrician apprenticeship pipelines. Business & Innovation: UVA’s $350M biotech facility is advancing, with plans to fit out about half the space initially to adapt as research priorities shift. Consumer Safety: Publix expanded a recall of GreenWise frozen blueberries and mixed berries due to potential E. coli O145 contamination, with shipments including Virginia. Auto Sales: Hyundai Motor America reported record July sales, driven by strong hybrid demand.

Defense & Cybersecurity: CACI (Virginia-based) won a $500M Pentagon contract to support JIATF 401’s Domestic Shield counter-drone mission, including SkyValor drone-defense systems. AUKUS Submarines: The Pentagon is proposing tweaks to AUKUS submarine-transfer law, aiming to sell only in-service Virginia-class attack subs to Australia to protect U.S. availability as shipbuilders struggle to reach 2 boats per year. Navy Readiness: USS Minnesota completed its first forward deployment from Guam, validating a model that boosts time on station in the Indo-Pacific. AI + Construction Workforce: A report says tech giants like Google and Meta are funding major electrician and skilled-trades training to build data centers, with Google’s $50M IBEW partnership targeting a big jump in apprentices. Data Centers & Power/Water Pressure: A new study finds data centers are overwhelmingly urban, not remote—reinforcing the siting fight tied to local infrastructure strain. Virginia Health Care: A federal judge dismissed a Charlottesville whistleblower lawsuit against Sentara over ACA premium rates, citing limits on challenging state-approved insurance pricing. Consumer Watch: Publix expanded a frozen-berry recall tied to E. coli concerns, including distribution to Virginia stores. Virginia Tax: Virginia’s tax-free weekend runs Aug. 7–9, including energy-efficient appliances and select school and hurricane-prep items. Local Agriculture: A soil health field day Aug. 18 highlights drought-resilient practices and fertilizer-reduction mapping tools.

UN Leadership Watch: Former Costa Rican VP Rebeca Grynspan has surged to the front of the pack in the UN Security Council’s first informal straw poll for the next secretary-general, with Virginia Gamba and others also in the running. Virginia Healthcare & Insurance: Sentara says contract talks with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield have stalled, warning some commercial/Medicare/Medicaid agreements could expire unless rates are agreed, while citing more than $105M in overdue claims. Aerospace & Research: NASA opened a new $57M Flight Dynamics Research Facility at Langley in Hampton, its first major wind tunnel in 40+ years, aimed at testing everything from drones to future Mars missions. AI + Construction Skills: A new report says AI firms are funding electrician training to staff data center buildouts, including Google’s $50M push with IBEW to expand apprenticeships. Food Safety: Publix expanded a frozen blueberry and mixed-berry recall tied to possible E. coli O145:H28 contamination, with shipments including Virginia. Data Centers in the Spotlight: New research finds most U.S. data centers sit inside metro areas—challenging the idea they’re mostly rural jobs engines.

Defense & Shipbuilding: Electric Boat won a historic $76.6B U.S. Navy deal to build Virginia- and Columbia-class submarines, a major jobs and supply-chain boost for the region. Advanced Manufacturing Training: Phillips Federal is delivering hybrid and additive manufacturing systems to the Navy’s Danville “Schoolhouse” to expand hands-on training for fleet readiness. Water & Groundwater: Virginia senators are urging Gov. Spanberger to call a special session after a DEQ report warns eastern Virginia groundwater may not support major new withdrawals—especially as data centers and growth add demand. Drought Watch: Drought advisories remain for the Chowan and Roanoke river basins, with the task force recommending de-escalation in the Big Sandy region. Food Safety: Publix expanded a recall of GreenWise frozen organic whole blueberries and mixed berries in eight states, including Virginia, tied to possible E. coli contamination. Energy Planning: Virginia’s administration is gathering input for a new 10-year energy plan toward 2045 net-zero, with a public meeting set in Petersburg Aug. 3. Transportation Safety: VDOT is adding variable speed limit signs on I-64 work zones in James City and New Kent counties to adjust speeds when crews are present. Business Growth: BODYBAR Pilates says it signed 40 new territories and added 17 franchise owners in the first half, including multi-unit deals that reach Virginia.

Defense Shipbuilding: The U.S. Navy awarded nearly $77B to build 14 nuclear submarines, including $42.1B for nine Virginia-class Block VI boats and $29.5B for five Columbia-class Build II boats, with major work tied to HII Newport News and Electric Boat. AUKUS/Industrial Base: Australia’s defense ministry selected Leidos Gibbs & Cox Australia to lead preliminary design for a contingency floating dry dock to support future Virginia-class sustainment under AUKUS. Data Centers/Water: A new Virginia DEQ study says no Coastal Plain location can support a major new groundwater withdrawal under current permitting standards, putting fresh pressure on water-heavy data center plans near I-95. Local Governance/Permitting: Botetourt County leaders move to independently assess water impacts from a planned Google data center drawing up to 2M gallons a day, amid drought fears. Life Sciences Funding: Gov. Spanberger announced $2.4M in non-dilutive grants via Virginia Catalyst to three biomedical startups. Food Safety: Publix expanded a recall of GreenWise frozen blueberries and mixed berries linked to an E. coli outbreak, including Virginia sales. Community/Workforce: A Pepco-Exelon program brought DC-area teens to a STEM career academy at the University of Maryland, College Park. Public Safety: Newport News identified two victims of a fatal July 24 residential fire and urged stronger home fire safety practices. Consumer/Health: A major analysis found antihistamines don’t meaningfully help eczema itch for most patients and may add cognitive side effects.

Fusion & Capital Markets: Commonwealth Fusion Systems added another $1B round and hired a former Moderna CFO, fueling talk of a faster path to an IPO as it pushes fusion milestones. Health & Medical Tech: UVA researchers say gliomas may be more receptive to focused ultrasound drug delivery, using MRI to measure performance inside tumors. Virginia Privacy Watch: A rarely tested Virginia privacy statute is drawing fresh lawsuits, putting retailers on notice about notice-and-consent duties tied to in-store data sharing. Public Safety & Consumer Alerts: Dole recalled certain salad bags after listeria concerns, including products sold in Virginia. Transportation & Commuting: VDOT is expanding a Park and Ride near Strasburg, boosting capacity and adding lighting and drainage ahead of a Feb. 2027 completion. Data Centers & Local Power: Virginia’s data-center boom keeps colliding with grid delays and local pushback, with regulators and lawmakers debating who pays and how projects should be governed. Defense & Shipbuilding: The Navy’s $76.6B submarine contract package accelerates Virginia- and Columbia-class construction, with major work at Newport News and Electric Boat. Regulated Products Enforcement: Virginia AG Jay Jones created a Regulated Products Enforcement Unit to crack down on vapes, THC, and kratom. Local Growth: Edenton outlined downtown upgrades tied to a new tech center of excellence, housing, and a renovated historic hotel.

Defense Shipbuilding: The Navy awarded $76.6B in new contracts to Huntington Ingalls and General Dynamics Electric Boat for additional Virginia-class Block VI and Columbia-class submarines, with Newport News Shipbuilding set to deliver multiple Virginia-class boats and modules. Airport Infrastructure: President Trump announced a $22.5B overhaul of Washington Dulles, including replacing the controversial “people movers” with an expanded rail and passenger tunnel plan. Energy & Power Demand: Commonwealth Fusion Systems raised $1B to finish its first fusion demo in Massachusetts and is planning a first commercial device site in Virginia, while broader reporting highlights how data centers strain water and electricity. Tech Supply Chain: Bipartisan senators urged Apple to avoid buying memory chips from blacklisted Chinese firms CXMT and YMTC, warning of reliance on a Pentagon-designated military-linked supplier. State Policy (Virginia): Virginia’s new 1% sales tax option for school construction/renovation is now available statewide via voter approval, with local referendums required by mid-August. Health Oversight: Virginia’s Department of Health rolled out a new nursing home oversight plan aimed at clearing survey backlogs and tightening enforcement.