AGP Executive Report

Data Centers & Water/Energy Politics: Kevin O’Leary agreed to cut Utah’s Stratos data center footprint in half to 20,000 acres after Utah Senate President Stuart Adams demanded a 75% reduction, with claims that excess water shares would be directed to the Great Salt Lake and more area would become open space—another sign the AI buildout is turning into a major Utah policy fight. Federal Energy Push: President Trump announced nearly $700M to support coal plants and exports using Cold War-era defense authority, including upgrades to 13 plants and help for an Oakland export terminal—an effort that could ripple through Mountain West energy and construction supply chains. Geothermal Collaboration: Utah joined a Mountain West Geothermal Consortium to accelerate permitting, financing, and regulation for geothermal baseload power, aiming to boost regional development in the next few years. Mining/Materials in Utah: American Tungsten & Antimony reported further high-grade antimony drilling at its Antimony Canyon Project, extending the known mineralized envelope at the Little Emma prospect. Solar Access for Renters: Maryland and Virginia passed laws allowing plug-in balcony solar systems, a model that could spread to renters and non-rooftop households in Utah and nearby states. Public Lands & Fire Safety: BLM rolled out fire restrictions across 12 Utah counties, tightening rules on ignition sources and off-highway vehicle spark arrestors. Local Business & Community: Salt Lake City’s downtown farmers market returns with a new layout and vendor changes tied to Pioneer Park construction, while a Utah startup, Bringit, is pitching “DoorDash for luggage” service at Salt Lake City International Airport.

Data Center Fight in Utah: Utah Senate President Stuart Adams says Kevin O’Leary agreed to cut the Stratos Project footprint by 75% and add new water commitments for the Great Salt Lake, after a demand letter—though no permits are filed yet. Local Land Use: Summit County bought the contested 25-acre Highland Flat parcel at the I-80/US-40 gateway, using voter-approved bond money to keep it largely open for agriculture and passive recreation. Energy & Jobs: Trump is expected to announce nearly $700M to prop up coal plants and exports, using Cold War-era authorities to support 13 plants and restart shuttered facilities. Wildfire Smoke Readiness: A new ASHRAE-focused push warns many buildings aren’t ready for wildfire smoke as El Niño odds rise, urging operators to plan for real-world indoor air protection. Utah Infrastructure & Industry: The Utah Army National Guard unveiled a new Nephi Readiness Center, bringing a permanent engineering battalion presence back to the city. Space Supply Chain (Utah): Northrop Grumman shipped SLS booster segments from Corinne, Utah, for Artemis III—another reminder of Utah’s role in rocket manufacturing. Home & Construction Services: CCX Roofing urges Ogden-area homeowners to inspect roofs after wind and storm season to catch hidden damage early.

Utah Education & AI: The Utah State Board of Education is rolling out Google’s Gemini for Education statewide next school year, targeting about 680,000 students and 28,000 educators, with a focus on teacher support, AI literacy, and student data privacy. Water & Agriculture: Central Utah farmers and ranchers say drought worries are shifting from “this season” to a long-term new normal, with producers selling parts of herds to stay afloat. Energy & Infrastructure: Provo’s University Avenue interchange work ramps up Thursday with I-15 southbound onramp resurfacing and lane shifts, while Salt Palace is set to close in fall 2027 for a major renovation and about three years of redevelopment. Tech & Workforce: Boise State will lead a regional semiconductor education pipeline (PINES) connecting universities, community colleges, and industry across nine states to build microelectronics talent. Public Safety & Courts: A tow truck operator convicted in the 2024 Ogden Canyon crash that killed two has been sentenced. Business & Manufacturing: Electroflow Technologies is welcomed to Tooele City with a ribbon cutting tied to clean-energy lithium extraction. Healthcare Research: ACTG opened an HIV cure study (A5413) testing oral dasatinib to target the HIV reservoir in people on ART. Civic Process: Tooele County voters were notified of incorrect ballots mailed due to a print-vendor data-matching error.

College Sports Policy: Utah DE Lance Holtzclaw testified in Washington supporting the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act of 2026, arguing the NIL and transfer-portal era is driving more lawsuits and pushing college athletics toward a pro-model. AI Data Centers & Water: Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams urged Kevin O’Leary’s Stratos AI/defense data center backers to cut the campus footprint 75% (40,000 acres to ~10,000) and strengthen water, conservation, transparency, and heat-reduction commitments. Defense Manufacturing: Lockheed Martin successfully intercepted a test drone using its GRIZZLY containerized launcher, integrating Utah-based Fortem Technologies radars and Sanctum software. Energy Policy: House lawmakers advanced a geothermal package aimed at speeding permitting and royalties for geothermal projects. Economy Watch: WalletHub ranked Utah No. 3 for state economic strength, citing tech workforce and research investment. Logistics & Space: Union Pacific unveiled a commemorative locomotive in Utah hauling NASA Artemis III rocket components, underscoring the supply-chain push behind the lunar mission. Local Business Tech: Eyebot and The Framery at 1-800 Contacts opened new vision-test kiosks in the Salt Lake City area.

Deep Earthquake Research: University of Utah scientists say a rare, deep-mantle quake near Randolph (1979) was real, using old seismic data to confirm events far below where earthquakes are expected. Wildfire Readiness: U.S. Forest Service chief Tom Schultz told lawmakers the 2026 fire season starts with elevated risk nationwide, backed by expanded staffing and fuel-reduction work. Utah Energy & Power: Nadarа will hold a public info meeting on the proposed Drunkards Wash Energy Project in Emery County. Aerospace/Manufacturing Expansion: Buckner opens an eighth Utah office in St. George, while Janicki Industries’ $800M manufacturing expansion picks Great Falls, Montana—highlighting how regional business climate shapes Utah-area operations. Industrial Real Estate: Newport National Corporation bought Hobble Creek Business Park in Springville, adding more small-bay industrial space plans. Tech/Engineering Spotlight: UIU’s Mars Rover team placed third globally at the University Rover Challenge in Hanksville, earning top honors in Asia. Sports Media & Local Impact: DirecTV/Scripps blackout hit 54 stations, including Salt Lake City, as carriage disputes disrupt viewing. Agriculture & Biosecurity: Utah detected highly pathogenic avian influenza at a Cache County dairy, triggering mandatory weekly surveillance and quarantine rules. Utah Policy & Compliance: Utah Treasurer Marlo Oaks urges residents to search for unclaimed property during the June 3 Webathon.

Wildfire Preparedness: Utah’s statewide closed fire season kicked off Monday (June 1) as above-normal fire risk spreads, with burn permits required for open burning and officials warning the season could run longer than usual. Outdoor Recreation Funding: The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation awarded $19M for 81 projects, including trail and visitors-center work in Summit and Wasatch counties. Water & Growth Pressure: Park City is already under stricter fire limits, while a separate report highlights how drought is forcing Central Utah ranchers to cut herds and conserve water. Court Access Overhaul: Utah’s new H.B. 397 requires livestreaming public court proceedings and posting recordings online, aiming to expand transparency while adding privacy safeguards. Permitting & Development Fight: West Virginia AG J.B. McCuskey leads a coalition challenging activist groups’ ability to sue and stall federal permits before state review. Aerospace & Manufacturing: Hexcel broke ground on a new applications center at Wichita State’s NIAR, and Utah’s aerospace supply chain continues to benefit from Dreamliner component work. Economy Watch: Utah’s job market is described as “low-hire, low-fire,” with hiring at a multi-year low even as unemployment stays relatively contained. Business & Consumer: Cafe Rio hired a new CEO after fans complained the chain “lost its way,” and a Lehi couple says a roofer dispute led to a construction lien despite payment.

Data Center Fight in Box Elder: Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams says he’s sent Kevin O’Leary a letter demanding the Stratos project shrink 75% (from 40,000 acres to about 10,000) and add tougher water, wildlife, and transparency requirements tied to Great Salt Lake. Local Politics & Oversight: In Utah’s GOP primary debate coverage, Rep. Blake Moore defended his role in redistricting while Rep. Karianne Lisonbee pressed concerns about the Box Elder data center’s unanswered questions. Transportation & Construction: UDOT advanced major I-15 work, shifting northbound traffic onto new pavement on the 1800 North Improved project in Davis County and preparing a bridge deck pour for the Hamilton Fort Rebuild in Iron County. Energy & Infrastructure: Goblin Valley State Park is getting electrical power as crews move forward on upgrades. Healthcare Automation: A Utah pilot using an “AI doctor” for prescription renewals is spotlighted, alongside broader AI workflow automation trends in clinical settings. Food Safety: A growing salmonella recall expanded to more products and retailers, including Costco and Walmart. Utah Economy Signals: A new WalletHub-style state economy ranking puts Utah among the top performers, while housing-market chatter points to a possible 2026 stabilization.

Data Centers & Water: Utah Senate President Stuart Adams says he’s demanding a 75% cut to Kevin O’Leary’s proposed 40,000-acre data center footprint, shrinking it to about 10,000 acres, and requiring any excess water be treated and dedicated to the Great Salt Lake—while also pushing for more transparency and stronger conservation commitments. Health Tech: Researchers at the University of Utah and UIC report a physics-informed AI wearable smartwatch that could continuously measure blood pressure and blood flow without a cuff, with licensing talks underway. Local Food & Agriculture: UDAF won a USDA Farm to School grant ($350,000) to expand Utah-grown fruit in school meals and add hands-on ag and nutrition education statewide. Medical Cannabis Market: UDAF and the University of Utah’s MCORE team published a 2025 Utah medical cannabis adoption study showing improved participation and satisfaction, but still flagging cost and administrative barriers. Business & Packaging: FourFront Contract Packaging launched its first fund to scale student housing and contract packaging capabilities, including clean packaging rooms and food/nutraceutical services. Consumer Trends: Kraft Heinz is rolling out a “Jell-O Simply” line in Utah stores with no synthetic dyes or artificial ingredients and 25% less sugar. Local Economy: Sugar House Chamber is seeking a special assessment area to fund events, signage, and holiday lighting to boost downtown vibrancy.

AI Data Centers & Utilities: Sen. Elizabeth Warren is escalating criticism of AI data centers, saying nearby families face higher utility bills, strained water systems, and environmental harm—adding pressure as Utah debates its own massive data center plans. Utah Data Center Rules: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox is trying to distance the Stratos Project from earlier “100% natural gas” claims, with opponents warning about air quality, water, and Great Salt Lake impacts. Local Healthcare Expansion: Intermountain Health announced a major Spanish Fork Hospital expansion, including a bigger emergency department, new operating rooms, and added imaging capacity. Water & Great Salt Lake: A new poll finds Utahns’ concern about Great Salt Lake water levels is rising, while federal funding is being sought to support engineering and habitat work. Transportation Disruption: UDOT scheduled an overnight I-15 closure in Lehi for power line installation tied to the 2100 North project. Retransmission Fight: Scripps Local Media pulled 54 stations from DIRECTV across 36 markets, going dark during major sports and election season. Mining/Ag Inputs: Canadian Phosphate signed to acquire Utah’s Diamond Mountain phosphate project, aiming at fertilizer and battery supply chains. Energy/Environment: Wildlife crossing funding and safety measures are expanding in the West, with new laws designed to reduce animal-vehicle crashes. Sports & Community: Son Heung-min scored twice in a World Cup tune-up in Salt Lake City, while Utah football recruiting continues with a new Oregon State commitment from Provo linebacker Teave Brown.

Utah Data Centers: Gov. Spencer Cox signed an executive order tightening the “higher bar” for AI data center development after community backlash to Kevin O’Leary’s Stratos Project, directing agencies to apply stricter review on water, air quality, wildlife, utility-rate impacts, and public input, with phased permitting instead of one blanket approval. Clean Water Tech: Researchers at the University of Rochester unveiled a solar desalination approach using laser-treated solar panels that can produce fresh water without chemical pretreatment and without brine waste. Prostate Cancer Care: Huntsman Cancer Institute’s Neeraj Agarwal presented TALAPRO-3 results showing talazoparib plus enzalutamide significantly improves radiographic progression-free survival in HRR-altered metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Energy & Training: Southern Utah University’s engineering team earned second place overall and won the design challenge at a national hydropower competition, tackling nonpowered dams, pumped storage, and in-conduit hydropower. Local Industry Spotlight: Stadler opened its Salt Lake City rail-car manufacturing facility to the public, giving families a behind-the-scenes look at passenger train production. Mining & Jobs: Resolution Copper highlighted its potential to boost U.S. copper supply and energy security, positioning the Arizona project as a major long-term domestic source.

Data Centers & Water Policy: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed a new executive order setting a higher bar for data center development, directly responding to public pressure around the Stratos Project in Box Elder County—aiming to protect the Great Salt Lake and other water bodies, air quality, and utility ratepayers while still supporting jobs and economic growth. Wildfire Preparedness: Park City Fire District launched a free wood chipping program for residents as Utah faces an above-normal wildfire season tied to drought and record-low snowpack, with registration and strict pile rules to cut fuel near homes. Agriculture Shock: Utah State University Extension warns late spring frosts have caused widespread fruit crop loss, creating a “fruit famine” risk across much of the state; growers are urged to keep normal tree care while adjusting nitrogen and pest plans. Energy for Parks: The Bureau of Land Management approved a 15-kilovolt distribution line to bring reliable power—and fiber-optic upgrades—to Goblin Valley State Park, improving operations in a remote area. Local Food Access: Utah’s Department of Agriculture and Food won a USDA Farm to School grant to expand Utah-grown fruit in school meals and classroom education statewide. Consumer & Supply Chain: Kraft Heinz rolled out Jell-O Simply in Utah stores nationwide, touting real fruit juice, fewer synthetic dyes, and 25% less sugar—another sign of ingredient-focused product shifts.

Renewables & power deals: EDF power solutions North America signed a 30-year PPA with Southern California Public Power Authority for the Utah Solar 1 project, a 400 MWdc/300 MWac solar build on state-managed land in Millard County, targeting mid-2027 delivery and projecting tens of millions in local tax and lease revenue. Local clean-energy politics: Kearns officials reversed course on a proposed Community Clean Energy Program after residents warned the $4/month default enrollment would hit lower-income households, pushing the debate toward whether Rocky Mountain Power should cover the cost. Utah jobs snapshot: Utah’s April jobs report showed unemployment at 3.8% (unchanged from March) and added about 11,100 jobs since April 2025, with growth led by professional/business services, education/health, and financial activities. Data centers vs. Utah communities: Coverage kept spotlighting Utah’s data-center surge and the backlash—plus Gov. Cox’s push for higher data center development standards and renewed attention on environmental and water impacts. Food safety: Carbon County’s foodborne illness investigation concluded after a two-week probe, with health officials saying the circumstances were resolved and urging prevention through workplace illness controls. Business & community: A new global humanitarian center opened in Salt Lake City, expanding classrooms and training tied to employment skills and English instruction. Transportation & construction: UDOT updates highlighted Wasatch Back roadwork, including I-80 paving impacts and Highway 189 improvements. Wildlife: A great horned owl rescued from a concrete mixer in southwestern Utah is recovering after a long rehabilitation process.

Data Center Policy: Gov. Spencer Cox signed an executive order setting statewide guidelines for large AI data centers, targeting water use, air quality, energy generation, wildlife impacts, and transparency after Utah’s Box Elder backlash. Local Governance: Utah’s response also includes more agency review and approval steps for future projects, as residents push back on footprint and investor concerns. Energy & Infrastructure: BLM approved a 15 kV distribution line to power Goblin Valley State Park, with poles that could also support fiber upgrades for faster internet. Tech & Real Estate: Eagleview and Nearmap settled a long-running patent dispute tied to roof measurement tech, clearing the way for both firms to focus on customers. Business Community: The International Franchise Association endorsed June primary candidates, including Utah, praising pro-franchise policies for local small businesses. Workforce & Growth: A Utah chamber engagement column argues active business participation is key to solving issues like housing affordability that affect hiring and expansion. Public Safety: A University of Utah pediatric safety roundup highlights common household products that can be fatal to children, urging parents to rethink everyday risks.

Data Center Transparency: Utah State Auditor launched “Transparent Utah,” a new MIDA dashboard aimed at answering public questions about the Military Installation Development Authority’s role in the proposed Stratos AI data center in Box Elder County. Local Governance: Box Elder County foes say they’ll appeal the denial of referendum applications after the county attorney ruled the requests weren’t legally referable, keeping pressure on how local decisions get made. Energy & Nuclear: Green River’s long-stalled nuclear plan is moving again, shifting toward small modular reactors via a new partnership involving Fulcrum Point Holdings and Holtec International. Infrastructure & Power: Utah’s “bottom-up” clean energy push continues as more communities weigh joining the Utah Renewable Communities program, while Coalville voted to stay out over opt-out and rate concerns. Construction & Building Tech: HydroBlok says testing now supports direct-to-stud installation for its HB One Backer CI system, targeting reduced wall assembly complexity. Public Safety: A 3.1 quake hit northern Box Elder County near the proposed data center campus site, adding to an already tense local debate. Defense Industry: Janicki Industries highlighted F-35 maintenance expansion near Hill Air Force Base, citing new funding and jobs growth. Housing & Finance: Mortgage rates rose again to 6.53% for 30-year fixed loans, while pending home sales fell for a second week.

Davis County Politics: Scott Fletcher is pitching himself as the “data guy” in the Republican primary for Davis County Commission Seat A, arguing decisions should be grounded in budget and analytics rather than city-by-city special interests. Great Salt Lake & Data Centers: A Box Elder public forum reignited the fight over a newly approved 40,000-acre data center, with critics warning the heat footprint could disrupt valley moisture cycles. Nuclear Energy Buildout: Holtec International says its SMR-300 tech is central to the Green River Advanced Nuclear Project under Operation Gigawatt, while Fulcrum Point and Blue Castle announced a joint venture to push the Green River nuclear site through licensing and deployment. Defense Tech: A Fort Rucker test showed a logistics drone firing a 70mm rocket launcher, underscoring Utah’s role in unmanned systems momentum. Food Safety: A beverage recall tied to Salmonella is hitting 25 states, including Utah. Local Industry & Growth: Carbon/Emery EDC updates point to road and power upgrades tied to incoming development interest near Ridge Road. Work & Money: A buyout guide highlights the real math behind severance offers, taxes, and benefits.

Data Center Fight in Box Elder: Stratos’ developers say the data center’s footprint will be limited, but a new protest coalition is pushing back over wildlife and water impacts tied to the Great Salt Lake, while a separate water-rights transfer application was withdrawn. Great Salt Lake Pressure: A new poll finds Utah concern about the lake keeps climbing, and state leaders are leaning on drought emergency measures as federal help is sought. Nuclear Energy Returns to Utah: In Green River, Fulcrum Point is partnering with Blue Castle to revive a long-stalled nuclear plan in a new small modular reactor format. Energy Policy Push: Utah’s lawmakers are also studying data center impacts on wildlife and the environment, as national regulators and states debate who should control sports-related prediction markets. Food & Agriculture Strain: Cold snaps hit fruit crops hard, while Utah Food Bank expands summer meals to keep kids fed as school ends. Community & Services: The Church’s new Humanitarian Center opens in Salt Lake City with job training and emergency supply prep. Workforce & Tech Education: Arizona’s microelectronics education hub will support pathways across the region, including Utah. Public Safety: Utah County’s new K-9 drug dog, Stevie, joins thanks to a local donation.