AGP Executive Report

Fuel Watch: Doña Ana County hit its week-ending Sept. 5 low for E85 at $3.47/gal (E85 averaged $3.81), while diesel averaged $5.68/gal and the county’s lowest diesel spot was $5.09/gal. Flood & Weather: Monsoon storms kept heavy rain and flash-flood risk in western/central New Mexico through Thursday morning, with a flood watch in parts of the region. Agriculture: New Mexico green chile faces a potential 20%–50% shortfall as heat, disease, and pests cut yields, pushing wholesale prices higher. Local Water & Infrastructure: Farmington marked completion of the $9.8M Totah Subdivision water and sewer project, funded by ARPA and the Gold King settlement. Energy/Tech Policy: New Mexico’s Ethics Commission says Oracle spent $3.4M on ads tied to Project Jupiter permitting. Public Safety: Three people died in Navajo Nation flooding near Newcomb, with evacuation guidance issued in nearby areas. Defense Industry: Castelion announced a U.S. Navy production delivery order up to $200M for Blackbeard hypersonic weapons. Business/Real Estate: Florida-based CTO Realty Growth bought Kansas City’s Zona Rosa for $63.3M, planning phased revitalization. Aviation/Travel: TSA expanded military lanes to more than 30 airports for expedited screening.

Defense & Mining: US tungsten supply remains dominated by China (about 79% in 2025), and a new DFARS rule starting Jan. 1, 2027 will tighten “country of origin” treatment from mine/ore stage—while New Mexico-linked projects still hinge on land access and permitting. Hypersonics Manufacturing: The US Navy ordered up to $200M of Castelion’s Blackbeard hypersonic weapons for production, with manufacturing and delivery work at Castelion’s Project Ranger campus in Rio Rancho and its Torrance facility. Aerospace Industrial Base: Hermeus won a Pratt & Whitney F100 licensing deal to manufacture F100-PW-229 engines for its Quarterhorse unmanned aircraft, with a key flight test over White Sands Missile Range. Energy & Land: PEDEVCO acquired 5,678 net acres in Wyoming’s Mowry play via a BLM lease sale, expanding its position. Uranium Cleanup: Homestake’s Grants-area groundwater remediation continues under an alternate concentration limit approach as residents press for long-term protection of drinking-water aquifers. Data Centers & Tech: Google is exploring a potential data center in Lea County, and separate New Mexico-focused discussions keep centering on local concerns and infrastructure readiness. Public Works & Safety: NMDOT warns drivers to avoid flooded roads during monsoon flash-flood conditions. Local Business & Growth: Albuquerque International Sunport rose to No. 9 in JD Power’s medium-airport satisfaction category. Healthcare & Seniors: Walmart and SCAN plan a co-branded Medicare Advantage rollout in two states, pairing retail convenience with health services.

Public Safety & Tech Oversight: Page, Arizona’s police chief defended automated license plate readers, citing local case use versus millions of outside agency queries—fueling a civil liberties debate. Energy Infrastructure: Xcel’s SPS is advancing a $3.6B Texas-to–New Mexico transmission project, targeting May 2031 service and route/easement work. Data Centers & Local Governance: Google says it’s “exploring” a Lea County data center, while Sierra County residents push for more study and transparency during a moratorium. Higher Ed Public Safety: UNM opened a $17M police headquarters to speed campus response. Weather & Risk: Monsoon storms bring heavy rain and flash-flood threats across New Mexico. Economy & Utilities: PNM’s parent and Blackstone seek revised merger terms with bigger proposed customer rate credits and grid investment. Uranium & Land Use: Mount Taylor’s traditional cultural property status remains a key uncertainty as uranium mining permitting moves forward. Community & Workforce: Taco Bell Foundation awarded $442K to nine New Mexico nonprofits; UNM also launched a new police station.

New Mexico Agriculture: After a dry monsoon season, New Mexico farmers are watching the sky for rain and El Niño-driven winter snowpack to stabilize chile and other crops. Energy & Fuels: Diesel hit record highs nationally and in Kansas, while U.S. crude production is reported near record levels—fuel costs remain a pressure point for regional businesses. Uranium & Land Policy: New Mexico banned new uranium mining leases on state-managed land, shifting attention toward legacy cleanup; separately, Anfield Energy advanced Colorado permitting for its JD-8 uranium/vanadium mine. Defense Manufacturing: Castelion moved Blackbeard hypersonic weapons into production with a U.S. Navy order up to $200M, with work tied to Rio Rancho, N.M. Local Economy & Real Estate: Western homeowners insurance troubles are derailing deals and threatening home sales, adding stress to housing markets. Tech/AI Infrastructure: Oracle’s massive OpenAI “Stargate” compute push keeps spotlight on AI power demand and data centers. Health Care: Nice Healthcare launched a New Mexico-included employer health plan aimed at reducing avoided insurance claims. Film & Media: Albuquerque’s Pluribus won multiple Emmys, highlighting the state’s TV/film workforce impact. Weather & Flood Risk: Rain brought relief across New Mexico but also triggered flooding concerns in places like Gallup. Corporate Governance: A law firm says it’s investigating Erasca over disclosures tied to its cancer drug candidate. Retail/Brand Moves: Krispy Krunchy Chicken named a new VP of western operations, signaling continued growth in convenience retail.

Utility Oversight: New Mexico DOJ is pressing PNM over unusually high bills after staffing shortages led to estimated meter readings, with some customers reporting charges over $1,000. Energy & Prices: Diesel and gasoline costs remain volatile across the state, with GasBuddy reporting some of the week’s lowest prices in multiple counties while national spikes are tied to pipeline disruptions tied to Middle East tensions. Data Center Watch: New Mexico Supreme Court set Project Jupiter air-quality permit decisions for Nov. 23, keeping developers and environmental groups in a holding pattern as hearings and approvals remain contested. Workforce & Industry: CNM is joining Sandia National Labs’ CAMINO Collaborative to build an advanced-manufacturing workforce pipeline near Sandia’s Route 66 site. Local Economy: New Mexico’s job growth is slowing, with federal cuts offsetting gains in mining, retail, and state/local government. Transportation: Overnight work will reduce Rio Bravo to one lane in both directions between 2nd Street and Isleta. Public Safety/Weather: A flash flood warning is in effect for Bernalillo County until 8 p.m.

Defense & Aerospace: BlueHalo won a $99.83m Air Force Research Laboratory contract for Leveraged Orbital Battlespace Optimization, with early work funded through Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Energy & Regulation: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez pressed PNM’s parent over “unusually high” bills, citing complaints tied to estimated meter readings. Workforce & Education: NM Higher Education Department launched a Workforce Pell application for colleges to fund eligible students in short-term workforce programs, with tribal colleges highlighted as key beneficiaries. Tech & Engineering: CircuitDiagramGenerator.ai debuted an AI tool to turn circuit descriptions into diagrams, aiming to speed up electrical design work. Infrastructure & Construction: NMDOT starts a $3.2m I-40 pavement rehab near Grants (mile markers 54–63) and begins Rio Bravo Bridge-area work in Albuquerque with overnight lane reductions. Public Safety & Courts: A wrongful death lawsuit was filed in the Marshals’ shooting deaths case involving a Farmington woman and her puppy. Water & Agriculture: U.S.-Mexico signed a new Colorado River sharing deal for 2027–2028, reducing Mexico’s share by 250,000 acre-feet. Local Governance: Doña Ana Soil and Water Conservation District explains a mill levy proposal on the November ballot.

Local Infrastructure: Truth or Consequences marked the reopening of Foch Street after a long, grant-funded rebuild, with city and MainStreet leaders crediting more than $3M in funding and thanking businesses for enduring closures and construction disruption. Road & Mobility: Albuquerque is studying design options for San Antonio Drive after residents flagged deteriorating pavement; the city says it will recommend an approach by year-end, with changes targeted for the following year. Energy Prices: Diesel remains volatile but steady in New Mexico—Rio Arriba County hit a weekly low of $5.15/gal (week ending Sept. 5), while the state average was $5.70/gal; Roosevelt County’s regular gas weekly low was $3.93/gal. Climate & Fire: New Mexico Tech’s Zeljka Stone says heat, shrinking snowpack, and drought match long-running Southwest climate projections; meanwhile the Frijoles Fire reached 79% containment, with smoke expected to linger across northern communities. Oil & Production: EIA forecasts U.S. crude output to average a record 13.8M b/d in 2026, with expansion concentrated in the Permian (Texas and New Mexico). Community & Culture: Levitt AMP kicked off its seven-week Ralph Edwards Park concert series, with more local acts scheduled through Oct. 22.

Fusion & Defense: Fusion startups are finding new defense partners as climate-tech funding cools, with laser and air-defense demand boosting interest in grid-adjacent power research. Energy Markets: EIA forecasts U.S. crude output hitting a record 13.8 million b/d in 2026, with growth concentrated in the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. Power Infrastructure: ERCOT “Batch Zero” designations are turning into a public scoreboard for AI-era power plans, as projects seek Base Load or Studied Load status to signal readiness. Utilities & Bills: New Mexico’s AG office is pressing PNM over unusually high customer bills, including complaints about estimated charges. Data Centers & Air Quality: Letters argue EPA changes are weakening clean-air rules and public right-to-know as AI data centers expand, including concerns about generator pollution and permitting transparency. Local Industry: Santa Fe Brewing Co. is pursuing growth despite craft beer headwinds. Workforce & Tech: A New Mexico workforce push links community college training with Sandia-linked advanced manufacturing and emerging tech pipelines. Water & Drought: Colorado River reporting warns federal cutbacks could force unprecedented reductions, with downstream impacts for Arizona agriculture.

Utility Oversight: New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez’s office pressed PNM over “unusually high” customer bills, including complaints about estimated charges and lack of timely customer service. Hydrogen & Water Scrutiny: A local column argues the planned Questa hydrogen facility needs a redesign after concerns about where it sits, how it uses water, and how much public input was involved. Water Policy Debate: Another opinion piece backs letting the state engineer follow New Mexico water law in Project Jupiter-related well decisions, while a separate column warns brackish-water plans may cost far more than expected. Education & Facilities: Harrison Middle School unveiled the first phase of a $30.3M makeover, adding a new gym, cafeteria, and arts spaces funded by bonds and state matching dollars. Energy & Environment: A report flags New Mexico oil and gas sites tied to radioactive air pollution and lung-damaging ozone. Agriculture & Biosecurity: USDA launched a New World screwworm page for hunters; officials say risk is low but urge early reporting of unusual wounds or maggots. Local Business: Enchantment Eats brings northern New Mexico cuisine to Salida via a rebuilt food truck, leaning on Navajo and Mexican traditions. Workforce & Cost Watch: WNMU staff wages are described as “on the path” to competitiveness, while gas prices in multiple counties stayed in the high-$3s for regular and mid-$5s for diesel.

Energy & Power Transition: PNM says it’s leaning on its Albuquerque-area gas fleet to cover nighttime demand as it ramps renewables, with the Reeves Generating Station described as a key “thermal” backstop while coal exits loom. Oil & Gas Health Impacts: New studies tied to the Loving, N.M. Permian Basin area link oil-and-gas operations to higher airborne radiation and elevated ozone, pointing to flaring, compressors, and wastewater ponds as likely sources. Nuclear Oversight: Communities for Clean Water is pressing New Mexico’s congressional delegation to release overdue DOE/NNSA plutonium pit production reports tied to Los Alamos, arguing communities and Pueblos need the documents to assess safety. Local Infrastructure: Albuquerque City Council passed a “Quick Build” amendment to speed up cheaper street safety fixes for pedestrians and cyclists. Education & Facilities: Albuquerque Public Schools reports about 400 open HVAC work orders, with some cooling repairs delayed by parts shipping. Water Policy: Archbishop John Wester urged action on New Mexico’s drought and water stewardship, spotlighting acequias and equity in access. Manufacturing/Jobs: Array Technologies says it’s expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint with a new Albuquerque facility. Transportation Funding: TRIP and NMDOT officials told lawmakers New Mexico has $7.5B in scoped road projects but lacks funding to execute them.

Education & Public Health: Albuquerque Public Schools says about 400 cooling work orders are still open, with some classrooms waiting on AC parts and repairs as the city breaks heat records. Energy & Industry: Oracle is pushing up to 2 GW of renewables for its Project Jupiter data center in Santa Teresa, but the campus still relies on 2.45 GW of natural-gas Bloom Energy fuel cells, raising questions about real emissions cuts. Nuclear & Environmental Oversight: Communities for Clean Water is urging New Mexico’s congressional delegation to force the release of overdue DOE and NNSA plutonium safety reports tied to Los Alamos’ planned pit production expansion. Tech Leadership: Oracle’s October user conference will spotlight new co-CEOs Clay Magouyrk and Mike Sicilia, with founder Larry Ellison notably absent. Local Housing & Community Services: A San Juan County Housing Summit drew about 150 leaders to tackle rural affordability and access to housing programs. Transportation Infrastructure: TRIP says 56% of New Mexico’s major roads are in poor or mediocre condition, while NMDOT has $7.5B in scoped projects but lacks funding to fix them. Business & Trade: VARA Winery & Distillery expands New Mexico sparkling wine distribution into New York and New Jersey. Agriculture & Workforce: NMSU’s College of ACES hosted its annual Fall Festival to connect students with clubs and animal-focused programs.

AI in Courts: A New Mexico Supreme Court contempt ruling says a Santa Fe attorney used ChatGPT in an Oscar murder appeal and submitted made-up police statements and witness accounts, ordering a $5,000 penalty and sending the matter to an attorney discipline board. Renewables & Manufacturing: Array Technologies opened a new Albuquerque manufacturing facility aimed at boosting in-house solar tracker components and creating about 300 jobs, while Invenergy and HASI closed a partnership backing a 2.7-GW wind/solar/solar-plus-storage portfolio that includes New Mexico projects. Broadband & Connectivity: Oracle plans a public environmental dashboard for Doña Ana County’s Project Jupiter, with twice-yearly third-party reviews covering noise, heat, emissions, and water use; separately, Sparklight touted top Ookla internet performance results across multiple states. Energy Outlook: EIA forecasts U.S. crude production could hit a record 13.8 million barrels per day in 2026, with growth concentrated in the Permian (Texas/New Mexico) and the federal Gulf. Local Economy & Housing: New Mexico’s business churn is highlighted by a study showing New Mexico among the lowest 10-year business survival rates, and Farmington school leaders debated pausing mandatory online elementary assessments over screen fatigue concerns. Media & Jobs: Netflix canceled “Ransom Canyon” after two seasons, affecting hundreds of New Mexico workers tied to the production.

New Mexico DOJ vs. Meta: Attorneys played a Mark Zuckerberg deposition video in the state’s Facebook trial, pressing questions on data handling, content moderation, and how third-party apps accessed user information. Housing & Construction: Homewise opened its 72-unit, all-electric Sombra del Oeste townhome community in southwest Albuquerque, aiming to expand “starter home” options as demand stays tight. Local Infrastructure: Albuquerque City Council approved a “Quick Build” amendment to its Complete Streets ordinance, pushing faster, lower-cost safety upgrades during routine road work. Energy & Tech: Oracle’s Project Jupiter update to Doña Ana County included a new RFP for 2 GW of carbon-free power and funding for carbon capture research, while commissioners questioned transparency on noise and energy plans. Public Lands: BLM Las Cruces hosted a “Public Lands-a-palooza” tied to America’s 250th, spotlighting recreation partners and community access. Wildfire & Federal Policy: New Mexico environmental groups held forums opposing USDA’s proposed rollback of the Roadless Rule, arguing it could worsen wildfire risk and limit protections. Real Estate Risk: A report links rising homeowners insurance costs and cancellations to deal failures and pressure on home sales. Science & Defense: Sandia advanced chip-scale quantum sensing with a compact atom-guiding approach aimed at navigation when GPS is jammed. Cybercrime: A ringleader in a $245M crypto theft pleaded guilty after hacking victims’ accounts, including a New Mexico home break-in for a hardware wallet.

Defense & Drones: AeroVironment jumped about 5% after landing its first international LOCUST laser counter-drone order worth $50M, while the broader drone ETF drifted lower—more company-specific than sector-wide. Energy Infrastructure: NextEra is seeking a tax break for the $696M Magpie Energy Center on Pajarito Mesa in Bernalillo County, a solar-plus-battery project targeting construction in 2027 and operations in 2029. Data Centers & Power Markets: Ionic Digital says ERCOT has provisionally classified the final 466MW tranche for its Ward County campus as base load in Batch Zero, keeping a target energization by end of 2027. Water & Risk: Experts warn the Colorado River could hit a Lee’s Ferry “tripwire” threshold by October, raising the odds of costly Supreme Court fights over basin allocations. New Mexico Policy: New Mexico’s Land Commissioner signed an order banning new uranium mining leases on state trust land without Navajo consultation, while Catron County residents are pushing back against a proposed exploration project. Health Insurance: New Mexico approved 2027 ACA plan rates on and off BeWell, with an average premium increase of 24.4% and subsidies expected to soften the impact.

Solar Manufacturing: ARRAY Technologies opened a new $50M, 216,000-square-foot Albuquerque plant, aiming to expand domestic production and add about 300 jobs as the solar market stays volatile amid FCC inverter rules and polysilicon tariff uncertainty. Defense & Tech: U.S. AeroVironment won its first international LOCUST laser counter-drone order worth over $50M, signaling faster scaling of directed-energy defenses for drone-heavy threats. Energy Policy: Canada said it will scale back environmental reviews for major energy projects as trade tensions with the U.S. heat up, while New Mexico’s Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pushed natural gas export talks on a Mexico City mission. Water & Agriculture: The U.S. and Mexico signed 2027-2028 Colorado River operating guidelines, cutting deliveries by 250,000 acre-feet and setting up salinity pilots. Local Courts & Privacy: New Mexico began opening arguments in its Facebook/Meta trial tied to Cambridge Analytica-style data practices. Wildlife & Legal Battles: 20 states and DC sued the Trump administration over Endangered Species Act rollbacks, challenging changes to “harm” definitions and critical habitat processes. Community & Health: A child died after a medical emergency at New Mexico Early Learning Academy in Tijeras; officials say foul play isn’t suspected. Infrastructure & Housing: Albuquerque’s fiber expansion rules are under debate as a city proposal would limit pauses and adjust repair timelines amid homeowner complaints. Agriculture & Climate Impacts: New Mexico State Fair harvests showed smaller produce and fewer entries after heat and drought. Business & Real Estate: A historic Old Town-area Albuquerque property, including a former U.S. Post Office, is listed for $875,000.

Defense Manufacturing: AeroVironment landed its first international LOCUST laser weapon order, a deal worth $50M+ that follows a $464.8M U.S. Army award and comes with major Albuquerque manufacturing expansion. Renewables & Data Centers: Oracle issued an RFP for 2GW of new renewable capacity in New Mexico tied to its Project Jupiter buildout, while broader clean-power additions hit record levels and local data-center regulation gaps keep drawing scrutiny. Wildfire Costs: New Mexico sued FEMA seeking reimbursement of at least $61M for Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire response costs tied to the National Guard. Uranium Policy: New Mexico’s land commissioner banned new uranium leases on state trust lands in Cibola County, escalating the fight over future mining. Water & Power: Clean power growth continues, but Colorado River uncertainty remains a looming risk for basin economies and planning. School Meals: SNAP cuts could ripple into New Mexico school breakfast and lunch access, even for students not enrolled in SNAP. Local Utilities: Continental Divide Electric Cooperative named a new CEO/GM, Manuel J. “Manny” Gonzales, as it plans for reliability and growth.