AGP Executive Report

Clean Water & Wetlands Policy: The EPA is seeking more public comments as it tries to finalize a durable rewrite of the Waters of the U.S. rule, a move that could reshape protections for wetlands nationwide. Energy R&D: The U.S. Department of Energy announced up to $12 million for space-based solar photovoltaics research, aiming to cut costs and expand domestic manufacturing for panels used in space. Wildlife Monitoring: At a West Virginia hatchery, biologists are testing tiny “backpacks” on juvenile crayfish to track survival and movement when standard tags are too large. Local Water Quality Funding: South Dakota’s DANR is accepting applications for Clean Water Act Section 319 nonpoint source grants, with a Oct. 1 deadline and a required 40% local match. Arctic Climate & Security: The EU announced a 200-million-euro package for Greenland, including education, fisheries, digital connectivity, renewable energy, and critical raw materials—part of a broader Arctic power push. Food Safety: A roundup for National Food Safety Education Month spotlights the groups doing the behind-the-scenes work on inspections, research, and lawsuits that keep pathogens out of the food supply.

Climate & Weather Watch: NOAA and other forecasters say El Niño is strengthening toward a very strong “super” event, with a high chance it persists into winter and could reshape U.S. snowfall and storm patterns. Water Stress: NASA maps show drought gripping Puerto Rico, with most of the island in drought conditions and millions affected, raising water and agriculture concerns. Clean Water Policy: A federal court ruling blocks New York’s climate “superfund” law, while another Fifth Circuit decision says there’s no constitutional right to clean water in a lead case—both underscoring how hard it is to secure protections. Energy Costs & Power Buildout: Virginia lawmakers and residents push back on rising bills and data-center growth tied to the proposed Dominion-NextEra merger, linking affordability, transmission, and eminent domain. Climate Tech & Materials: UMaine’s 3D-printed fiber-reinforced thermoplastic boat and Yazaki’s lower-carbon bamboo fiber composite highlight new U.S. and global materials work aimed at performance with lower footprints. Arctic Geopolitics: The EU pledges major Greenland investment amid renewed U.S. pressure over control, tying renewables and critical minerals to sovereignty tensions.

Heat & health: New analysis warns parts of the U.S. are edging toward “unlivable” wet-bulb heat, with days above 105°F potentially tripling as extreme heat drives a sharp rise in heat-related deaths. Cooling demand: The IEA says global air-conditioning access is still scarce in the hottest regions, but AC demand is set to surge—raising both energy and climate stakes. Energy transition politics: Iowa’s coal share ticked up in 2025, according to an Iowa Environmental Council report, sparking pushback from MidAmerican about reliability and costs. Nuclear & power infrastructure: A push to extend Diablo Canyon faces renewed criticism from ratepayer advocates, while Michigan’s Palisades plant seeks NRC restart licensing with streamlined environmental review support. Detention & environmental review: DHS is using a contractor with no environmental review experience for a Surprise, Arizona ICE facility assessment, even as the review process drags on. Local climate resilience: Solomon Islands’ Malu’u Market project is advancing with a completed 120-metre seawall and mangrove planting to protect against rising seas. Water & ecosystems: Utah biologists used rotenone in Mill Creek to clear invasive brook trout and protect native Bonneville cutthroat trout. Wildlife disease: New Mexico confirmed plague in a wild rat after multiple dog cases earlier this year, urging vigilance without signaling a widespread outbreak. Clean energy tech: Northwestern Michigan College’s geothermal exchange system targets a major emissions cut by replacing aging campus boilers.

Water Quality & Nutrients: A new U.S. Geological Survey study says excess nitrogen and phosphorus in many rivers and streams still reflect older pollution stored in soil and groundwater—meaning water quality can lag for years even after reductions, with impacts ranging from algal blooms and Gulf “dead zones” to higher costs for drinking-water utilities. PFAS Research Funding: Bennington College and other Vermont schools won a $7.9M NSF grant to build a PFAS Environmental Research Network, targeting how “forever chemicals” move through groundwater and ecosystems. Data Centers vs. Local Water: The data-center boom is colliding with small-town water systems, from major leaks and contamination disputes to rising opposition as projects multiply. Energy Efficiency Upgrade: Fort Sill’s $63M geothermal overhaul will convert more than 1,700 homes to geothermal heat pumps, aiming to cut energy use by 57%. Clean Water Court Fight: A federal court blocked New York’s $75B climate superfund act, adding to the legal pressure around major environmental spending. Air & Climate Policy: EPA is seeking more public comments as it tries to finalize a Clean Water Act rewrite that could leave most wetlands unprotected.

Clean Water & Public Lands: Hawaiʻi granted a 15-day extension for the Navy and NASA’s final environmental impact statement tied to renewing leases for the Pacific Missile Range Facility and Kōkeʻe observatory on Kauaʻi, keeping public testimony open longer. PFAS & Air/Water Enforcement: The Justice Department backed Oklahoma’s fight over a proposed primary aluminum smelter in Inola, arguing the state AG’s lawsuit is trying to block federal Clean Air Act/Clean Water Act permit review. Biodiversity Restoration: Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park is closing parts of trails as part of the Poudre Headwaters effort to restore the Greenback cutthroat trout. Climate Disaster & Justice: Nepal’s flood recovery debate continues as the country sought compensation from major greenhouse-gas emitters, then reportedly backed away from that demand. Health & Environment: Puerto Rico’s Clorox recall of 6.3M Mistolin bottles raises concerns for immunocompromised travelers due to possible Pseudomonas aeruginosa contamination. Energy Transition: Toyota pledged $280M to expand hybrid engine production in Alabama, signaling continued emphasis on hybrids amid electrification pressure.

Data Centers vs. Communities: DOJ urged a judge to protect a $100B CHIPS Act-backed Micron semiconductor hub near Syracuse from an environmental lawsuit, arguing delays would threaten national security and U.S. supply chains. Water, Power, and Noise Pressure: Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock called for a statewide data-center moratorium after visiting an OpenAI site, citing fears of higher utility costs and more water, light, and noise pollution. AI Boom Meets Local Rules: In Rapid City, South Dakota, EPA’s proposal to reduce public input on some air permits for facilities like data centers is sparking backlash, with local leaders moving to require more hearings and votes. Wildfire Aftermath: California lawmakers advanced bills that could become the first statewide standards for testing and cleaning up smoke damage in homes after major fires, aiming to end disputes over when properties are safe to reoccupy. Coastal Erosion Watch: San Clemente, California updated its Coastal Strategic Plan to widen beaches over time as storms and El Niño events continue to erode sand and threaten infrastructure. Climate Signal: The UN warned a “supersized” El Niño could reshape U.S. winter conditions, with impacts already being felt.

Clean Water Fight: EPA is reopening public comment on a proposed Clean Water Act rewrite that could leave up to 80% of U.S. wetlands unprotected, as the agency and Army try to clarify “Waters of the U.S.” definitions after major court shifts. Federal Energy Permitting: The Trump administration moved to streamline Arctic oil approvals in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve, reducing project-by-project environmental reviews and aiming for faster permits. Air Quality Policy: EPA proposed fully approving North Dakota’s regional haze plan, a move that would keep multiple power sources operating without new emissions controls, while opening a 30-day comment period. Nuclear Power Restart: A nuclear restart effort gained momentum with DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory support for the NRC’s environmental review for Michigan’s Palisades plant. Data Centers & the Grid: Ceres released investor guidance on electric power risks from data center growth, urging utilities to plan for reliability and grid upgrades. Public Health: San Diego County linked a Salmonella outbreak to eggs from Happy Hens poultry farm in Ramona, with FDA testing finding the farm tied to outbreak strains. Local Environment & Courts: A federal judge signaled she may block a planned ICE facility in South County, citing likely violations of federal environmental law.

Clean Water Fight: The Trump EPA and Army Corps unveiled a revised “Waters of the U.S.” proposal that would strip federal protections from nearly all wetlands and streams, narrowing coverage to mostly permanently watered areas and opening a 30-day comment period. Air Quality & Health Costs: A Georgia Tech study in Nature says wildfire smoke has erased about a quarter of past U.S. air-quality gains, with knock-on effects for spending, productivity, and healthcare. Critical Minerals Oversight: Global Trade Watch director Melinda St. Louis testified that Trump’s critical minerals deals lack transparency, include harmful terms, and raise corruption risks. Local Water & Climate Resilience: Pasadena launched new public outreach for its first Environmental Justice Element, asking residents to map neighborhood environmental burdens. Ports & Pollution/Infrastructure: Oakland signed a design agreement with the Army Corps for a $642M harbor turning-basin widening to handle larger ships, following years of review. Energy/Permitting: Trump backs Micron’s $100B Syracuse-area chip project in court, arguing delays threaten national security despite environmental-review challenges. Wildfire Recovery: Colorado approved federal aid for recovery from the Aspen Acres and Gold Mountain fires, including public infrastructure support.

EPA & Brownfields: Tetra Tech won a four-year, $16.8 million EPA land revitalization contract, adding momentum to the company’s environmental and infrastructure work. Climate Resilience in Action: San Ysidro opened La Semilla Community Resiliency Center, giving residents a place to cool during heat waves, charge during outages, and train for emergencies, built with mass timber and solar. Heat & Public Health: A Yale-led study links air-conditioning use to a 57% reduction in U.S. heat-related deaths, preventing more than 5,000 annually. Farm Biosecurity: Texas A&M researchers are testing far-UVC light to see if it can reduce avian influenza in poultry houses without harming birds. Wildlife & Invasives: Alabama agencies are hosting a free wild pig workshop in Weogufka focused on trapping and management. Data Centers & Water Politics: Montana candidates debate large data center impacts, especially transparency about water use. Energy Prices: U.S. diesel hit a record $5.820 a gallon amid U.S.-Iran tensions and refinery disruptions. Legal/Policy: A judge blocked New York’s climate “superfund” law, while courts also stalled EPA moves to override California vehicle standards.

Endangered Species, Forest Service: A federal judge ordered the U.S. Forest Service to pause a Shawnee National Forest logging project after finding the agency skipped a required Indiana bat review before approving the work. Climate Extremes: The UN warned El Niño is “supersized,” raising odds of harsher heat, drought, and flooding across the U.S. and beyond. Water Quality, Microplastics: North Carolina AG Jeff Jackson urged EPA to require microplastics monitoring in drinking water by adding them to the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. Wildlife Recovery: The Colville Tribes’ Canada lynx reintroduction in Washington’s Kettle Range is showing signs of success, with trail cameras capturing kittens surviving after winter. Public Lands, Recreation Rules: The Forest Service moved to amend the Travel Management Rule, aiming to streamline access while aligning with Trump priorities. NOAA, Fisheries: NOAA Fisheries laid out priorities to restore American seafood competitiveness under a deregulatory seafood executive order. Data Centers, Federal Land: A federal appeals board halted a 167-MW Nevada data center approval on BLM land over environmental-law concerns.

Climate Accountability in Court: A federal judge struck down New York’s $75B “climate superfund” plan to make fossil-fuel firms pay for climate damages, saying the state law overreaches into federal territory and conflicts with the Clean Air Act’s national role for the EPA. Global Warming Overshoot: The UN warns the world will likely exceed the 1.5°C warming goal in the next few years, pushing countries toward an “overshoot, peak and decline” path that relies on deep cuts plus carbon removal. Extreme Weather Risk: A report highlights how a record-strength El Niño—supercharged by human-caused warming—could intensify heat, coastal flooding, and drought across the U.S. and beyond. Energy & Grid Buildout: OCI Energy broke ground on a 260MW Texas solar project, citing AI-driven power demand. Local Water Pollution: San Diego County approved an 18-month Tijuana River capture-and-cleanup planning phase to reduce contaminated flows and beach closures. Cybersecurity: Thomson Reuters confirmed a breach of its C-Track system affecting court records in multiple states and Canada, with some files containing personal information.

Extreme Materials & Fusion: Ames Lab unveiled a refractory-metal powder atomization system that can process materials up to 3,400°C at up to 1 kilogram per minute, aiming to speed U.S. production of high-melting alloys for gas turbines and fusion components. Skilled Trades & Jobs: Associated Builders and Contractors released a first-ever national field study finding multiskilling boosts time spent on direct construction work by 39%, while helping workers build credentials across crafts. Clean Air Policy: The Engine Technology Forum praised House passage moving toward reauthorization of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, a bipartisan program funding upgrades and retirements of older diesel engines. Climate Litigation: A federal appeals court vacated a 25-year sentence for a climate activist, rejecting a “terrorist motive” enhancement. Energy Transition Fight: Environmental groups petitioned to block DOE’s order keeping Orlando’s Curtis H. Stanton coal plant running beyond its planned shutdown, warning of higher bills and worse air quality. Data Centers & Community Scrutiny: Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer urged transparency before new data centers are built, as debates grow over energy use and local impacts. Arctic Warming: New research highlights that Arctic sea ice melt season is now about a week longer than in the 1980s, underscoring accelerating change.

Climate Policy Reality Check: A new UN report says Earth is on track to exceed the Paris “danger zone,” but urges countries to limit warming and then bring temperatures back down—meaning more disasters even if emissions fall. Wildfire & Smoke Health: Commentary and reporting tie worsening wildfire seasons to fossil-fuel-driven heat and dryness, with impacts felt far from burn areas through dangerous smoke. Federal Land & Data Centers: Nevada’s Interior appeals board paused a Boulder City data center on federal public land, after residents and groups challenged the BLM approval process; in Georgia, Bulloch County rejected a data-center ban while keeping a moratorium. PFAS Enforcement: A D.C. Circuit ruling kept PFOA and PFOS “forever chemicals” within CERCLA’s reach, tightening cleanup pathways. Public Health Alerts: Roswell, Georgia found West Nile–positive mosquito traps and began targeted spraying while urging bite prevention. Wildlife in Homes: Iowa guidance highlights bats’ role in insect control and notes they’re protected, with limited exceptions when bats are inside living spaces.

Courts & Climate Accountability: A federal judge blocked New York’s $75B “climate superfund” law, saying it’s beyond state authority and conflicts with federal air-pollution regulation—an outcome Utah and other GOP-led states are already using as a roadmap. Energy Policy & Biofuels: EPA granted 29 small refinery exemptions from 2025 Renewable Fuel Standard blending rules and plans to reallocate the associated renewable fuel volumes into 2026–2027 obligations. Water Security: EPA awarded nearly $12M to help 10 drinking-water systems defend against cyberattacks and extreme weather, while a White House initiative will connect Texas utilities with free cybersecurity support. Data Centers vs. Communities: Trump escalated his push for AI data centers amid backlash; meanwhile, Interior paused a Boulder City-area data center plan after concerns it wasn’t properly studied under environmental review. Extreme Heat & Seasons: Climate Central found fall temperatures have risen in nearly every U.S. city since 1970, with more warmer-than-normal fall days. Local Cleanup & Housing: Lafourche Parish is seeking state grant money to expand blight removal by demolishing eligible structures at no cost to owners.

Climate Attribution: A new World Weather Attribution study links a rare early wet-season drought in Puerto Rico and Jamaica to human-caused warming, cutting rainfall and making dry spells far more likely. Courts & AI: A federal judge blocked the Pentagon’s “supply chain risk” blacklist of Anthropic, saying national security can’t be used to punish AI speech. Energy & Security: Oil prices jumped as U.S.-Iran fighting revived Strait of Hormuz disruption fears, with crude back above $90. EV Charging Reality Check: Colorado’s fast-charging network is “nearly built out,” but public DC fast ports still lag gas pumps and average longer charging stops. Recycling Limits: A reminder that recycling rules are driven by economics, not chemistry—most waste isn’t profitable to collect and process. Wildfire/Heat Impacts: August brought extreme heat and drought conditions in parts of Texas, with long stretches of no measurable rain. Data Centers & Politics: Trump escalated attacks on local opposition to AI data centers, framing it as keeping communities “backward and poor.” Water Infrastructure: A judge narrowed Baltimore Key Bridge economic-loss claims, allowing some limited damage theories to proceed.

Drinking Water Cyber/Storm Resilience: The EPA announced $11.75 million in grants to help midsize and large water utilities harden systems against hackers and extreme weather. Offshore Fishing & Habitat: Oceana lost its appeal over a North Pacific trawling challenge, with the court dismissing the case for lack of jurisdiction. California Offshore Oil: California officials and fishermen are raising alarms about a Trump-ordered restart of offshore drilling tied to past spills and fishery closures. Data Centers vs. Communities: Trump doubled down on his “let Data Reign” message, warning opponents could become “backwards and poor,” as critics cite power, water, and local environmental impacts. Climate Finance in Banking: A coalition urged Connecticut’s banking regulator to treat climate mitigation and adaptation lending as eligible under the state’s Community Reinvestment Act. Greenhouse Gas Data: A new report maps the U.S. GHG measurement and verification “enterprise,” cataloging dozens of programs and data assets. Wildlife Protection in Georgia: Georgia opened public comment on updates to its Protected Species List, aligning state status with federal listings. Health & Pollution Link: A study found higher Parkinson’s risk for people living near dry cleaners, pointing to long-term solvent contamination concerns.