AGP Executive Report

Offshore Wind Legal Fight: Vermont AG Charity Clark joined a multistate lawsuit to block Trump administration deals that cancel four offshore wind projects off Maine and New York in exchange for $1.4 billion, arguing the “pay-to-not-play” scheme misuses taxpayer dollars and pushes investment into fossil fuel infrastructure. Generic Drug Antitrust Relief: AG William Tong urged consumers to check eligibility and file claims for compensation tied to multistate settlements alleging generic drug price-fixing, with preliminary court approval and a May 2009–Dec. 2019 purchase window. Manufacturing Support: VMEC won $812,300 through the federal Manufacturing Extension Partnership to help Vermont manufacturers adopt advanced tech like AI, robotics, and automation. Food System Leadership: The Intervale Center marked Executive Director Travis Marcotte’s 20 years, highlighting support for hundreds of farms, native plantings, and large-scale food distribution. Energy Costs on the Ground: Vermont truckers and farms are feeling diesel spikes, with one Cabot producer saying he’s absorbing higher fuel costs to keep prices steady. Food Waste Push: Gov. Phil Scott proclaimed Sept. 28–Oct. 4 as Food Waste Prevention Week, kicking off a Scrap Food Waste Challenge. Workforce & Agriculture Grants: Working Lands Enterprise Initiative opened FY 2027 applications for service providers and producer associations, with up to $225,000 available.

Vermont Housing & Development: Bennington’s Monument Place redevelopment in former Energizer buildings appears to clear a major Act 250 hurdle, with officials saying it qualifies for a priority housing exemption—potentially paving the way for 157 homes plus commercial space. Energy & Industry: Vermont Yankee decommissioning is nearly finished, with demolition and shipping of debris largely complete and only a small amount of work left using remaining trust funds. Agriculture & Food Systems: UVM and USDA researchers opened a new Food Systems Research Station in Charlotte, aiming to help Vermont farmers tackle livestock and crop challenges and share results across New England. Local Economy & Costs: Willey’s Store in Greensboro says rising wholesale prices, wages, utilities, and tech fees are squeezing margins and fueling customer anger toward staff. Workforce & Community Services: SEVCA outlined a refreshed mission and vision to respond to interconnected housing, food, energy, and transportation pressures across Windham and Windsor counties. Public Safety & Courts: A Burlington jury found Jason Eaton guilty of attempted murder in the 2023 shooting of three Palestinian men, rejecting an insanity defense. Business & Governance: NBT Bancorp named Kimberly A. Boynton to its board, bringing healthcare leadership and commercial real estate experience.

Vermont Economy: Vermont’s unemployment held steady at 2.6% in August, with the labor force participation rate also unchanged at 62.1%, while Bennington County sat slightly higher at 3.3%. Food & Agriculture: Gov. Phil Scott proclaimed Sept. 28–Oct. 4 as Food Waste Prevention Week, kicking off a Scrap Food Waste Challenge aimed at keeping food scraps out of trash and cutting costs. Clean Energy & Waste: Vanguard Renewables agreed to buy Generate Upcycle’s North American organics recycling operations, adding five digesters in Ontario and New York and boosting renewable natural gas capacity. Local Politics: St. Albans City voters head to Nov. 3 to choose between Rep. Joe Luneau and Suzy Kenyon, with the race framed around balancing state deliberations and responding to community needs. Workforce & Housing: A Vermont-focused look at housing and healthcare access highlights why candidates say people are struggling to stay in the state. Business/Industry: Vermont’s construction and real estate outlook remains shaped by high costs, financing pressure, and a continuing affordable housing gap.

Semiconductor Expansion in Vermont: GlobalFoundries and Marvell expanded their SiGe optical connectivity deal, boosting production capacity at GlobalFoundries’ Burlington site to meet growing data-center demand. Energy Affordability Pressure: Sen. Peter Welch joined a bipartisan push to release LIHEAP funding fast, warning low-income households face winter energy bill strain. Electricity Mandate Backlash: A new analysis argues “clean power” mandates are driving higher bills because they undercount backup, transmission, and reliability costs. Housing & Permitting Watch: Vermont’s real estate market is seeing slow progress on the housing gap, with calls to speed permit reforms and clarify wetland-adjacent development. Construction Updates: Vermont Business Magazine posted the week’s I-89 paving and bridge work, with lane closures and speed limits affecting commuters. Local Governance: St. Albans City Council approved buying the historic Central Vermont Railroad headquarters for $1.125M, aiming for mixed-use redevelopment. Agriculture Funding: Vermont’s Farm to School and Early Childhood grants open for applications, with $200,000 total available. Policy & Privacy: A court fight blocks a Trump administration push for sensitive driver data, citing privacy overreach.

Energy Assistance: Sen. Peter Welch joined a bipartisan push urging HHS to quickly release fully funded LIHEAP money, warning winter energy costs could hit low-income Vermonters and seniors hard. Power Costs & Policy: A new analysis argues “clean power” mandates in multiple states are driving higher bills because standard cost comparisons miss backup and reliability needs. Semiconductor Manufacturing: Marvell and GlobalFoundries expanded a SiGe production deal, boosting Vermont’s capacity for data-center optical connectivity. Housing & Development: A Vermont real estate roundup says the state still faces a major affordable-homes gap, with permit reforms and site readiness key to slowing rental pressure. Construction & Traffic: Vermont Business Magazine posted the Sept. 21 roadwork schedule, including I-89 paving and bridge rehab impacts. Public Safety: Vermont State Police reported a Bolton I-89 construction-zone crash that led to a negligent operation citation. Local Economy & Community: St. Albans City approved buying the historic Central Vermont Railroad headquarters for potential mixed-use redevelopment. Agriculture & Food: Vermont’s giant pumpkin weigh-in crowned a 1,730.5-pound winner in the annual competition. Workforce Debate: A fresh look at Bernie Sanders’ proposed overtime rule highlights the likely cost hit for employers.

Semiconductor Expansion in Vermont: Marvell and GlobalFoundries are expanding SiGe production capacity at GlobalFoundries’ Burlington site to meet surging demand for high-speed data center optical connections, pushing both stocks higher. AI Policy Push: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is among lawmakers backing AI slowdown and moratorium proposals, as Congress debates dozens of AI bills and tech leaders call for guardrails. Housing + Local Economy: St. Albans City approved buying the historic 2 Federal Street Central Vermont Railroad headquarters for $1.125 million, with plans likely to convert it to mixed-use commercial/residential. Energy Costs Watch: National gas prices jumped week over week as crude stayed above $100 a barrel, adding pressure to household and business budgets. Agriculture & Soil Prep: UVM Extension highlighted fall cover crops as a practical way to protect soil and improve nutrients ahead of winter. Food & Community: St. Albans restaurants generated 66% more meals-tax revenue since 2019, signaling a stronger local dining scene. Construction/Traffic: Vermont Business Magazine posted statewide highway work updates for the week of Sept. 21, including I-89 paving and bridge rehabilitation detours.

Semiconductor expansion in Vermont: Marvell and GlobalFoundries are scaling up silicon germanium (SiGe) production capacity at GlobalFoundries’ Burlington site to meet growing data-center demand for high-speed optical networking gear. Housing and development pressure: A new multi-stakeholder effort aims to clarify development near wetlands as Vermont grapples with high costs, permit friction, and a still-large affordable-home gap. Local historic property deal: St. Albans City Council approved buying the Central Vermont Railroad headquarters at 2 Federal Street for $1.125 million, with plans likely headed toward mixed-use conversion. AI policy fight hits Vermont politics: Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders backed AI slowdown and data-center moratorium proposals as lawmakers introduce dozens of AI bills amid global safety warnings. Workforce housing squeeze: UVM Health Network job cuts are putting some employee renters at risk of losing employer housing in South Burlington. Agriculture on the ground: Apple picking is underway with a strong statewide start, but some southern Vermont farms are leaning on diversification after a cold spring reduced yields. Outdoor recreation buildout: Shaker Ridge Trails in Hancock is nearing a late-fall soft opening, with free access for mountain bikers, hikers, and runners.

Vermont Housing & Jobs: UVM Health Network job cuts are putting employee housing at risk, with some workers facing eviction when employer apartments close in South Burlington. State & Federal Privacy: AG Charity Clark is defending her seat as Raoul’s coalition won a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from demanding a massive CDL driver data database. Energy & Cost Pressure: Diesel hit an all-time high in Vermont, with truckers warning higher fuel costs could ripple into everyday prices. AI & Vermont Industry: GlobalFoundries and Marvell expanded SiGe/optical connectivity production in Burlington to support faster AI data-center networking. Public Health & Food Safety: Abbott baby formula will pay more than $384M over alleged safety failures, while eggs are recalled in two states for Salmonella. Agriculture & Community: Apple season is underway with a strong statewide start but smaller southern yields after a cold spring; Tunbridge World’s Fair’s Ag Education Day drew 2,100 students. Telecom & Local Control: Westmore intervenors filed to reconsider a Vermont Supreme Court decision upholding a permit for a 140-foot ITW tower. Business & Infrastructure: A weekly statewide construction update flags paving, bridge work, and line striping affecting I-89 and other corridors.

Semiconductor Expansion: GlobalFoundries is boosting silicon-germanium (SiGe) capacity at its Burlington fab under an expanded multi-year Marvell deal, aimed at higher-demand optical networking gear for AI data centers. Energy & Costs: A new report warns the Iran war is pushing heating oil prices up about 60%, setting up a “much more expensive” winter for the roughly 3% of U.S. households that rely on oil, with gas and electricity users facing smaller increases. Local Infrastructure: VTrans details a two-week Route 7 culvert replacement in Sunderland, with detours and temporary traffic signals activating ahead of the closure. Business Moves: Watsco plans to acquire The Granite Group, a Northeast plumbing and HVAC distributor with major Vermont presence, expanding Watsco’s footprint and product reach. Public Health: CDC reports 3,471 measles cases nationwide as of Sept. 17, up week-over-week, with Vermont included among reporting jurisdictions. Health & Safety: Rutland County prosecutors temporarily lost most computers after asbestos contamination forced relocation and new equipment. Community & Workforce: A Birding on the Farm workshop series returns to Putney, highlighting farm habitat and wildlife conservation for local agriculture.

Food & Environment: Gov. Phil Scott has proclaimed Sept. 28–Oct. 4 as Food Waste Prevention Week, with the DEC rolling out a “Scrap Food Waste Challenge” to help Vermonters track waste and cut greenhouse-gas impacts. Roads & Construction: VTrans detailed detours for a two-week Route 7 culvert replacement in Sunderland, with traffic signals and staged closures starting Saturday morning. Agriculture & Research: UVM and USDA opened a new Food Systems Research Station in Charlotte, a 400-acre site aimed at region-specific crop, forage, and grazing studies. Local Governance: Bennington City Council approved a 1.4% property tax levy reduction and advanced Neumeyer Farm Phase 2, plus zoning changes that would allow a micro-distillery as a conditional use. Business & Industry: National Life Group was named to Forbes’ “America’s Best Insurance Companies 2027” list, while Southwestern Vermont businesses report resilience amid rising costs and workforce strain. Tech & Policy: Anthropic says Claude now leads about 26% of its R&D work, as AI “existential risk” debate keeps pushing lawmakers toward guardrails.

Semiconductor & AI Supply Chain: GlobalFoundries and Marvell expanded their Burlington, Vermont SiGe chip deal to boost capacity for high-speed optical connectivity used in AI data centers, aiming to meet rising demand for pluggable and co-packaged optics. Energy Infrastructure: ISO New England selected Eversource and Avangrid’s Transmission Initiative Down East as a preferred long-term grid upgrade, targeting congestion relief and enabling more northern New England wind. Manufacturing Support: Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) won an $812,300 NIST MEP award to help small and mid-sized manufacturers adopt advanced tech like AI, robotics, automation, and additive manufacturing. Brownfields Financing: Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission launched a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund backed by an EPA grant, offering low-interest loans and limited grants to clean up contaminated sites for redevelopment. Clean Water Planning: Vermont DEC opened draft Tactical Basin Plans for the Missisquoi Bay and Lamoille River basins for public comment, with hybrid meetings scheduled in late September. Local Transportation: Colchester’s diverging diamond interchange at I-89 Exit 16 went into effect, with VTrans monitoring traffic and signal timing as the project finishes next spring. Housing & Community Development: Middlebury’s Stonecrop Meadows housing project continues construction toward about 250 homes, as the college cites hiring pressure from the local housing crunch. Food Waste Prevention: Vermont’s DEC kicked off Food Waste Prevention Week with a Scrap Food Waste Challenge starting Sept. 28, pushing practical steps to cut waste and emissions.

Brownfields Financing: Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission launched a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund with EPA money, offering low-interest loans and limited grants to clean up contaminated sites and turn them into housing and community facilities. Clean Water Planning: Vermont DEC opened a public comment window on draft Tactical Basin Plans for the Missisquoi Bay and Lamoille River basins, laying out dozens of restoration steps with hybrid meetings in late September. AI for Finance (Local Business Tech): MatrixLabX rolled out PrescientIQ for Financial Services, using governed multi-agent AI with human approval gates and an audit ledger, priced per approved workflow. Cancer Research: UVM researchers reported early clinical results for a new mesothelioma approach that aims to turn the cancer’s own defenses into a weakness. Transportation & Construction: Vermont’s first diverging diamond interchange at I-89 Exit 16 in Colchester opens to traffic with overnight signal and lane changes; separately, Putney Road roundabout plans were scaled back and pushed to a later start. Food & Agriculture: USDA announced a Stand-Up Program to help more states launch meat inspection programs, and Vermont farm updates included egg recall activity tied to Salmonella. Workforce & Education: A Vermont engineering-focused “college, minus the frills” model is planning a first campus next fall, while a girls’ aviation career tour at Heritage Aviation highlighted pilot shortages and pathways. Energy Storage: FlexGen and Lightshift expanded battery storage deployments across Vermont and New England with HybridOS energy management. Public Health & Aging: Central Vermont Council on Aging set its “Hit the Trail” fundraiser on Sept. 27 to support free services for older Vermonters.

Energy Storage Expansion: FlexGen and Lightshift Energy are expanding their battery energy storage partnership across 16 projects in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Vermont, with 6 already delivering 25MW/85MWh and 10 more under construction. Health Care Jobs: Southwestern Vermont Medical Center says Dartmouth Health’s announced cuts won’t affect Bennington staffing, despite 124 eliminations at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and cancellation of 303 open roles. AI Regulation Push: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon joined calls for AI safeguards, as Congress faces mounting pressure but little time or consensus before the November election. Insurance Update: AM Best withdrew ratings for Saturn Insurance Inc., BP’s Vermont captive, after the captive was dissolved and its license surrendered. Agriculture Leadership: NASDA elected Washington agriculture director Derek Sandison as 2026–2027 president, with the 2027 annual meeting set for Kennewick, Washington. Food Policy Fight: A Senate bill led by Sanders to add warning labels and restrict marketing of certain foods to kids advanced, drawing strong dairy industry pushback. Local Housing Planning: Chester planners discussed fast-tracking housing options using alternative zoning approaches. Fall Farming Tip: UVM Extension recommends planting cover crops now to protect soil, suppress weeds, and support pollinators ahead of frost.

AI Regulation Push: Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon are teaming up at a “pro-human” event to demand guardrails, with Sanders backing a plan to ban superintelligent AI until safety rules exist, while Trump dismisses AI risk talk as a “hoax.” Local Infrastructure & Traffic: Vermont’s first diverging diamond interchange opens Wednesday at I-89 Exit 16 in Colchester, and a 10-mile Route 7 closure in Shaftsbury starts for two weeks of bridge work. Community & Culture: Middletown Springs volunteers moved the library “one book at a time” ahead of a Sept. 20 reopening, and the Chester Festival returns Sept. 19-20 at Gateway Field. Rural Economy: A UVM study finds agritourism can boost farm revenue and strengthen community ties, but grants and upfront support are still scarce. Health Sector: Dartmouth Health is cutting 124 jobs and canceling 303 open positions to improve long-term financial sustainability. Environment & Research: Landmark College and partners are leading a $7.9M NSF effort to study PFAS “forever chemicals” across Vermont.

AI Policy Showdown: Sen. Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon are set to headline a “pro-human” rally in Washington, pushing Congress to act as lawmakers react to fresh AI safety alarms and calls for guardrails. Manufacturing & Tech Adoption: NIST awarded more than $30 million to expand Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers, including support for Vermont manufacturers adopting advanced tools like AI, robotics, and automation. Forestry Markets: The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities announced $5.5 million in awards to strengthen wood fiber markets, with added Northern Border funding that includes Vermont. Food & Beverage Tech: VIP (Colchester) completed its acquisition of Encompass Technologies, aiming to broaden software and modernization for breweries, wineries, and soda bottlers. Workplace Debate: Sanders and Rep. Mark Takano reintroduced a bill to move the federal workweek from 40 to 32 hours without pay cuts, renewing the four-day workweek fight. Local Civic Capacity: The Vermont Community Foundation was named a 2026 Civic Hub, receiving a three-year grant to boost community-led leadership and civic life across the state. Cannabis Enforcement: Vermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers agreed to a $2,500 settlement with regulators over cultivating about 200 cannabis plants at an unlicensed site.

AI Policy Clash: President Trump called AI “a hoax” and dismissed calls for guardrails as lawmakers and industry leaders push for slowing frontier development ahead of midterms. Regulation Pressure: Congress is facing mounting public concern after high-profile AI safety warnings, while Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey urged federal action for guardrails. Vermont Data Centers Debate: A Vermont editorial argues the state should pursue responsible data-center development with local control, transparency, and infrastructure cost accountability. Workforce & Cost of Living: Sen. Bernie Sanders (with Rep. Mark Takano) reintroduced a bill to reduce the standard workweek to 32 hours with overtime after 32. Public Health & Food Safety: Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture and the Department of Health reported a voluntary egg recall tied to Salmonella, with linked Vermont illnesses. Workplace Safety: Rutland County prosecutors’ office was sealed after asbestos contamination from roof work at the Asa Bloomer building. Energy & Power Reliability: Hydro-Québec and New England utilities are in federal court after Quebec halted electricity deliveries during last winter’s cold snap. Local Business & Community: Kinney Drugs launched a kid-focused “Find Flemy” flu mascot scavenger hunt, and Vermont’s Safety and Health Council announced its Oct. 27 worksite wellness awards.