AGP Executive Report

Energy & Utilities: Colorado Springs Utilities’ Energy Wise summer rates kick in June 1, shifting customers to higher on-peak pricing (5 p.m.–9 p.m. weekdays) and lower off-peak rates to cut bills. Workplace & Courts: Colorado’s Supreme Court ruled workers can use self-defense at work even with “don’t chase or confront” policies, while federal cases move forward on issues ranging from Haitian meatpacking workers’ discrimination claims to Amazon workers’ unpaid COVID screening suit and an EEOC deal over a no-beard policy. Wildfire Insurance: New Colorado law takes effect July 1 requiring insurers to be more transparent about wildfire risk models and giving homeowners a chance to appeal scores. Data Centers & Water: Neighbors in Colorado Springs are preparing appeals after planning approval for Project Taurus, citing power, water, and noise concerns; across the West, Lake Mead is projected to sink back to record lows, underscoring pressure on Colorado River supplies. AI Infrastructure Funding: Boulder-based Hydra Host raised $100M to help data centers pool and manage GPUs for AI workloads. Housing & Community: Denver-area residents protested teardown activity in Virginia Village as investors pursue duplex development near Colorado Boulevard, and families at George Washington High School urged faster funding for aging athletic facilities. Food & Industry Recognition: Colorado chefs and restaurants continued to rack up James Beard honors, including Penelope Wong’s win for Best Chef: Mountain.

Advanced Manufacturing & Research: CSU marked a major milestone for its $160M public-private ATLAS laser facility in Fort Collins, with McCarthy completing the structural frame and setting up research tied to fusion energy, medicine, and fundamental science. Construction & Engineering: RS&H highlighted growth-driven aviation and transportation work across the Mountain States, including Bozeman airport expansion and West Vail Pass auxiliary lanes. Healthcare Capacity: Craig Hospital in Englewood is moving ahead with a $250M expansion to add 26 rooms and ease chronic bed demand for brain and spinal cord injury patients. Cyber & Compliance: eCreek IT hosted a Denver briefing on HIPAA, CMMC, AI governance, and 2027 regulatory changes for healthcare, manufacturers, and other regulated firms. Energy & Water: OceanWell and a Los Angeles-area water agency are testing a lower-energy desalination approach that could reshape supply planning as drought pressures grow. Local Industry & Jobs: Enstrom Candies completed a new 50,000-sq-ft Grand Junction facility to expand production, storage, and distribution. Tech & Privacy: WIRED reports Meta smart glasses facial recognition was built using software licensed from Denver-based Rank One Computing, a Pentagon and law-enforcement contractor. Agriculture & Food Costs: CSU researchers linked wildfire smoke to public health impacts and pointed to tariffs, drought, geopolitics, and fuel costs behind grocery price pressure. Sustainability & Building Efficiency: Window-mounted heat pumps are gaining attention as a way to cut energy use while boosting comfort. Public Safety & Environment: Western Colorado faces worsening fire danger with wind and heat ramping up midweek.

Colorado Rockies offense explodes: The Rockies crushed the Athletics 23-9 in steamy Las Vegas, setting a franchise record for runs as Willi Castro drove in seven and Hunter Goodman went 5-for-? with a career-high five hits and five homers total from Colorado’s lineup. Local public safety and construction: A man was rescued from a 15-foot trench in Wheat Ridge after nearly a day trapped in mud and water, with firefighters using rope systems to lift him out. Water and growth planning: Erie voted 4-2 to stay with the Northern Integrated Supply Project, despite updated modeling suggesting lower participation and higher financial risk. Dark Sky compliance: Breckenridge moved to accelerate town-owned streetlight upgrades, shifting about $1.1 million into the current budget to meet its Dark Sky standards sooner. AI policy watch: Lawmakers and regulators are racing to define how AI chatbots should be handled for children, as states push ahead even while federal rules stall. AI infrastructure business: Crusoe says it has contracted 4.9 GW of AI infrastructure capacity across data centers and its AI cloud platform. Community events: CSU’s June 24 celebration in Fort Collins will feature a 500-drone show as part of the America 250–Colorado 150 “Stories in the Sky” initiative.

AI & Regulation: A new push to regulate artificial intelligence is gaining momentum as states move ahead while Congress stalls, with lawmakers targeting how chatbots affect kids and how AI is used in hiring. Data Centers & Budgets: Virginia’s budget fight is nearing a possible shutdown, driven by a dispute over whether to keep a costly 20-year data center tax break. Workforce & Training: Healthcare is emerging as a job lifeline, with training programs helping career changers land roles as unemployment drags in other sectors. Agriculture Biosecurity: Colorado adopted emergency rules to prevent New World screwworm from entering the state, tightening veterinary inspection requirements and movement controls. Homeless Services: Colorado Springs is launching a “safe parking” initiative after a ban on long car and truck camping, partnering shelters with street health services. Aviation Training: CAE announced Pueblo layoffs and a site closure, raising questions about the future of aircraft mechanic training plans. Food Safety: The FDA issued a Class I recall for Alfredo sauce over potential salmonella contamination, affecting food service across 41 states. Commercial Real Estate: Downtown Denver’s office downturn is fueling major conversion plans, including turning underused towers into apartments.

Colorado River Water: Arizona faces potential cuts up to 77% if Upper and Lower Basin states can’t reach a deal, with federal reallocation looming over the next decade. Energy Policy: Colorado’s 2026 legislative session largely dodged major net-zero and Public Utilities Commission changes, focusing instead on reliability and affordability as Xcel Energy rate fights continue. Utility Rates: The state Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate says even a reduced settlement would still mean a record-high electric revenue jump for Xcel. Drug Enforcement: Seven people were indicted in the “Molly Wonka” Colorado drug trafficking case, allegedly distributing narcotics hidden in candy and nasal sprays from Basalt. Road Work: CDOT will close I-70 westbound lanes near Rulison to West Rifle for resurfacing, with overnight detours starting June 14. Local Governance: Salida City Council will amend noise-permit rules to align with a Colorado Supreme Court ruling after a dispute over decibel limits. Housing: A new Colorado Association of Realtors report pushes back on “bad rap” claims, showing price increases and steadier demand in the Denver metro. Workforce Impact: JBS plans to close a Souderton-area meatpacking plant, affecting about 1,700 workers.

AI Regulation: Colorado’s SB 205 kicks in June 30, requiring transparency and anti-discrimination protections for “high-risk” AI used in decisions tied to jobs, education, lending, health, and housing. Local Governance: Erie residents (100+ so far) are asking AG Phil Weiser to review the town’s mineral rights process ahead of a key Town Council vote, citing concerns over consultant contracting, executive sessions, and competitive bidding. Energy & Industry: Energy Fuels says it’s on track for about 1.6 million pounds of uranium production by June 30 at its White Mesa Mill, while also advancing rare-earth element processing modifications. Transportation & Construction: CDOT starts major Hover Street/CO 119 inside-left-turn lane closures June 14 through 2027, with more overnight impacts later; and I-70 resurfacing near Rulison to West Rifle triggers a westbound lane closure June 14-15. Agriculture: Red Angus Association names Larry Keenan permanent director of breed improvement, aiming to boost reliability of Red Angus genetics for producers. Tech & Software: Boulder’s Zed Industries opens an early-access waitlist for DeltaDB, a new version control approach built for AI-agent workflows.

Colorado Housing Reality Check: New Colorado Association of Realtors data says Denver-area and statewide home prices are still rising, with the seven-county Denver metro showing steady buyer demand and fewer listings, pushing back on “price collapse” chatter. Pride, Culture & Community: Aurora Fest returns Saturday with international food, performances and a parade of nations, plus a drone finale tied to U.S. and Colorado anniversaries. Public Safety & Fire Rules: Aurora lifts Stage 1 fire restrictions for a limited fireworks window (June 15–July 4) using a data-driven approach, while still warning residents to use only legal fireworks. Local Governance: Gilpin County pauses its first official flag decision after commissioners say the top design isn’t ready, sending it back for more options. Energy & Utilities: Black Hills Energy seeks an 8.8% electric base-rate increase, citing grid investment and a proposed customer refund. Tech & Land Use: Colorado Springs administratively approves Project Taurus, a Garden of the Gods-area data center; neighbors can appeal by June 22. Health & Food Security: Nevada AG Ford joins a coalition urging Congress to restore SNAP benefits in the Farm Bill, warning cuts will increase hunger and shift costs to states. Law Enforcement: Seven people were indicted in the “Molly Wonka” drug trafficking case out of Basalt, involving narcotics marketed as high-end candy and nasal sprays.

Fusion & Energy Tech: Xcimer Energy says the U.S. Department of Energy approved its preconceptual design and roadmap for Athena, its fusion power-plant architecture, positioning the Denver-based effort for early commercialization. Solar Manufacturing: Array Technologies hit a 100 GW milestone for tracker products delivered worldwide, highlighting continued growth in U.S. solar supply chains. Agriculture Preparedness: Colorado activated its New World screwworm response plan after cases were confirmed in the U.S., adding rules for animal movement and inspections to protect livestock and pets. Meat Industry & Labor: JBS plans to permanently close two processing facilities, including a beef plant in Pennsylvania and a value-added plant in Memphis, adding pressure to an already strained sector. Construction & Roads: CDOT and partners scheduled major weekend closures and paving work on CO 157 and US 160, with detours and lane reductions for motorists. Public Safety & Health: Denver-area air quality warnings are in effect for ozone, urging people with respiratory issues to limit outdoor exertion. Elections & Mail Voting: A USPS rules fight could affect mail-ballot delivery in mail-heavy states, with Colorado in the broader policy spotlight. Local Business: Hydrate IV Bar opened a new Centennial location, pitching IV therapy for recovery and wellness.

Drug Pricing Fight: A Colorado federal judge tossed AbbVie’s challenge to the state’s 340B drug pricing law, rejecting claims that it’s blocked by federal rules. Auto Market: Colorado new-vehicle registrations fell 18.4% statewide in the first quarter, with EV demand hit hard after incentives were cut and tariffs pushed costs to buyers. Local Economy & Costs: Denver-area inflation rose to 5% in May, driven by energy prices, keeping affordability pressure front and center. Energy Regulation: Colorado regulators told Xcel it can’t assume natural gas demand growth, limiting parts of its proposed gas-network investment plan over ratepayer risk. Renewables & Wind Services: FairWind acquired Denver-based rope access firm Rope Partner to expand turbine maintenance, training, and at-height services across the Americas. Construction & Safety Tech: A proposed class action targets a city’s 30-day automated speed-camera response window, arguing state law requires at least 45 days. Public Safety Policy: Douglas County is tightening rules for low-powered scooters and off-highway vehicles on roadways after reports of dangerous use and fatal crashes. Sports & Community: Colorado Springs is hosting FIFA World Cup watch parties across local bars and restaurants, even as the state’s drought outlook remains severe.

Emergency Animal Health: Colorado state officials announced an emergency rule to stop New World screwworm spread after detections in Texas and New Mexico, tightening entry rules for livestock. Wildfire Readiness: Summit County residents were reminded how fast small roadside fires can grow as the area enters higher fire danger, with local crews urging early action. AI & Jobs: Colorado’s AI law was repealed and replaced before it took effect, shifting employer obligations toward narrower automated decision-making transparency and human review. Energy & Electrification: Solar surpassed coal for the first time in U.S. electricity generation in May, while home electrification provider Jetson expanded across California—building on its Colorado footprint. Transportation & Construction: CDOT scheduled major closures for Santa Fe Drive/C-470 flyover repairs and planned weigh-in-motion upgrades near Platteville, with lane impacts and detours. Data Centers: Longwoods reported steady Pikes Peak tourism, while separate coverage highlighted mounting data center power demand pressures elsewhere. Tech & Research: CU Boulder and CU Anschutz launched hands-on human spaceflight education, blending engineering and medicine.

Fusion Energy & Nuclear Policy: DOE approved Xcimer Energy’s “Athena” fusion plant preconceptual design, a step toward continuous, industrial-scale power. Defense & Aerospace: Lockheed Martin won a $154M Pentagon F-35 production contract for 11 jets, with work spread across multiple states and the UK. Energy Reliability Debate: A new “social cost of blackouts” framework is being floated as Colorado and other states weigh clean-energy plans against grid reliability risks. Real Estate & Construction: A Cherry Creek office tower at 255 Fillmore sold for $92.5M as vacancy rates stay tighter than downtown. Local Infrastructure: Colorado Springs closed two eastbound Circle Drive lanes through mid-July for waterline work tied to bridge replacements. Transit & Cost Pressure: Colorado Springs bus ridership rose as inflation squeezes budgets and agencies add service. Water & Recreation: Crews are repairing North Cheyenne Cañon Park trail-area damage ahead of Pikes Peak APEX, with road reopening timelines unclear. Community & Housing: Littleton approved nearly $6M in incentives for the 1st Street Farms development. Consumer & Finance: A study highlights how lower-income Coloradans are getting squeezed by credit cards as everyday costs rise. Legal & Tech: Colorado’s life insurers face a new requirement to prove pricing algorithms aren’t penalizing people by race, even as the testing method is still being worked out.

Road & Construction: CDOT crews will start replacing drainage and later resurface CO 52, with a full weekend closure east of WCR 21 (June 12–15) and alternating lane impacts tied to the broader nine-mile project. Road & Construction: US 350 resurfacing begins June 15 southwest of La Junta, with alternating single-lane closures and an 11-foot width limit through early August. Weighing Trucks, Faster: Platteville’s Weigh-In-Motion upgrades begin June 15 at the US 85 weigh station, with short-term lane closures and reduced speeds expected through June 19. Mining Safety Training: Industrial Consulting & Training expanded MSHA certification courses across Houston and mining states including Colorado, offering live online and in-person options for surface and underground workers. Energy & Weather Risk: Estrella Insurance is pushing early hurricane prep as CSU forecasts 11 named storms, including five hurricanes and two major hurricanes, with inland flooding and outages a growing concern. Local Business Growth: Enstrom Candies completed a 50,000-square-foot expansion in Grand Junction to expand warehouse, distribution, and shipping operations. Agriculture & Community: Fruita Farmers Market returns June 13 with a family-focused opening day and weekly runs through Oct. 31. Water & Infrastructure Focus: Mesa County released its 2026 State of the County video, spotlighting transportation upgrades, western water protection, and services via Grand Valley Connects.

Colorado River Crunch: With Upper and Lower Basin states still deadlocked, a “no deal” federal plan could cut Arizona’s Colorado River share by up to 77% over the next decade, while other states face far smaller impacts—pushing Arizona to seek voluntary, compensated conservation. Drought Emergency: Colorado has declared a statewide drought emergency after record-low snowpack and historic heat, with Western Slope communities feeling it through water stress, mental health strain, and rising needs for food relief. Wildfire Readiness: Firefighters in Summit County are running home-by-home wildfire survivability drills, using structure triage to decide where they can actually make a difference. Aviation & Infrastructure: Greeley-Weld County Airport won $3.5 million for new taxiways, building on prior hangar and ramp upgrades. Health & Food Safety: The FDA expanded a pet food recall over nutritional deficiency tied to low thiamine levels. AI & Data Centers: A CU Boulder professor warns Colorado’s biggest data-center risks are grid reliability and power demand, not just water use.

US 160 Signal Upgrades (Cortez): CDOT and Morton Electric will improve two US 160 Main Street intersections at Mildred Road and Harrison Street, adding crosswalks, curb ramps, audible signals, and LED tech; work runs June 15–August. Identity & Fraud Tech: Aware says it expanded its biometric orchestration platform with new decisioning, configurable workflows, and partners ROC and Mitek to help stop deepfakes and synthetic identity fraud. Colorado River Risk: A new report warns Lake Mead and Lake Powell could lose key storage function soon, pushing the Southwest toward a potential “system crash” without major cuts. Drought Emergency: Colorado has declared a statewide drought emergency as record-low snowpack tightens water supplies. Public Safety Hiring: Estes Valley Fire Protection District named four finalists for fire chief. Agriculture Worker Safety: NIOSH is again running its H5N1 dairy worker safety campaign in states with confirmed cattle activity, including Colorado. Local Business & Data Rules: Denver Metro Chamber thanked Gov. Polis for vetoing HB26-1210, arguing it would have raised legal risk for common discounts and loyalty pricing. Wildfire Watch (Montrose): The Beehive Fire, sparked by lightning on BLM land near Paradox, is burning about 100 acres with no reported containment and visible smoke affecting recreation areas.

Bourbon Theft: A Noble Oak shipment worth $500,000+ was stolen in broad daylight from a Philadelphia-area depot, with 10,800 bottles loaded onto a truck before anyone realized the pickup was bogus. Insurance Courts: Colorado Supreme Court ruled judges can require insurers to produce documents beyond what was available at the time of an accident in uninsured-motorist breach cases. Livestock Health: USDA confirmed two more New World screwworm cases—one in Texas and one in New Mexico—while Colorado officials say the risk remains low and monitoring continues. Energy Grid Readiness: A new look at U.S. power planning says extreme heat is shifting from “tail risk” to a design baseline as drought, demand growth, and fuel concerns pile up. Workforce Immigration: Federal judges struck down Trump’s $100,000 H-1B fee as an unlawful tax, setting up appeals and a major test for tech and healthcare hiring. Community Housing: Englewood’s Simon Center library reopened after costly meth mitigation, with nonprofits donating replacements after contamination forced discarding the collection. Local Business & Infrastructure: Denver’s City Park bandshell is set for rebuilding after a fire destroyed the structure, with demolition planned for fall. Fuel Prices: GasBuddy reports diesel prices in Adams County at $4.67 (week ending May 30), while Colorado averages remain higher but trending down.

Wildfire Preparedness: Colorado’s Wildfire Resiliency Code is set to kick in July 1 for Mesa and Montrose Counties, pushing new fire-resistant building standards for homes in Wildland-Urban Interface areas. Public Safety Tech: Flash selected EVPassport as its preferred EV charging solution across its 17,000+ connected locations, aiming to bundle charging into commercial parking and mobility operations. Animal Wellness Manufacturing: KND Labs president Nicholas Wilson was elected to the National Animal Supplement Council board as the Colorado-based company expands beyond hemp-derived products into broader animal and human wellness contract manufacturing. Local Food Economy: Palisade’s Sunday Farmers Market returned with strong turnout, highlighting locally made goods and long-running growers as the Grand Valley’s community hub. Drought & Water Pressure: Arizona signed an MOU with California to explore a desalinated ocean-water exchange, as Colorado River managers warn the basin is shrinking and new supplies are increasingly urgent. Healthcare Innovation: CureDuchenne invested again in Tevard Biosciences to advance a Duchenne therapy targeting a specific mutation subgroup.