AGP Executive Report

UVM Research & Health Tech: A nearly $8M NSF-funded, four-year project is bringing Bennington, Middlebury, Landmark, and UVM together to study how PFAS move through Vermont’s water, wildlife, and food supply—aiming to close major gaps in “forever chemicals” risk understanding. Campus Tech & Safety: UVM’s fall career fair drew protests from Students for Justice in Palestine; at least one major employer (GlobalFoundries) backed out, while the fair itself ran without disruptions. Energy & Grid Policy: States are moving ahead on balcony “plug-in” solar, but safety standards and oversight still lag behind the fast, permit-light rollout. Public Health & Food Safety: Stewart’s Shops recalled specific ice cream products in NY, VT, and NH after a metal foreign object was found. Sports Recovery Tech: Float Away Wellness Spa partnered with UVM Athletics to offer floatation and vibroacoustic therapy for student-athletes’ recovery and mental performance. Climate Litigation Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a high-stakes climate case on whether local governments can sue energy companies over alleged weather damage tied to greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate & Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a major climate case on whether state and local governments can sue big oil for climate harms, with private contingency-fee lawyers playing a central role. Surveillance & Privacy: A federal judge ruled warrantless searches of Flock automatic license plate reader data violate the Fourth Amendment, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is pushing the “Ban Flock Act” to restrict federal use of ALPR tracking. Vermont Infrastructure: Barre’s BOR ice rink likely won’t open this season after testing found multiple leaks in its aging refrigeration system. Vermont Tech & Health: UVM Athletics is partnering with Float Away Wellness Spa to bring floatation and vibroacoustic therapy to student-athletes for recovery and mental performance. STEM & Public Health: Vermont State University students are working on a CRISPR-based approach to detect tick-borne pathogens, building on local research into Lyme disease vectors. Energy & Weather Research: A Dartmouth study finds Northeast droughts are less frequent and less intense than decades ago, though drought risk remains.

Privacy & Policing: A federal judge ruled a warrantless Flock Safety license-plate search violated the Fourth Amendment, suppressing drug evidence after police pulled a month of location history without a warrant—fueling a broader national fight over AI-powered surveillance. Border Tech: Vermont’s 2nd Circuit also upheld that border agents can search phones without suspicion, treating cellphones like other property at the border. State Tech Policy: Vermont lawmakers and advocates are pushing for tighter oversight as the state deploys AI cybersecurity tools, while Sen. Bernie Sanders and allies introduce the “Ban Flock Act” to restrict federal ALPR use and data access. Health & Access: A new Medicaid study finds pediatric sleep testing varies wildly across the U.S., with some places seeing kids tested up to four times more often than others. Climate & Agriculture: Dartmouth research suggests Northeast droughts are less frequent and less intense than decades ago, but Vermont farmers still face real risk after last year’s major losses. Higher Ed to Housing: As colleges close, experts and communities argue campuses should be converted into housing. Vermont Business/Science: UVM Athletics partners with Float Away Wellness Spa to bring floatation therapy to student-athletes, and Vermont State University researchers expand tick-borne pathogen work using CRISPR-based detection.

Privacy & Surveillance: Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Jeff Merkley unveiled the “Ban Flock Act,” aiming to block federal use of automatic license plate readers and limit federal funding tied to ALPR networks. Courts & Civil Liberties: A federal judge ruled a Tulsa deputy violated Fourth Amendment rights by using Flock to search a woman’s plate without a warrant, ordering suppression of follow-on evidence. Border Tech Ruling: Vermont’s federal appeals court held border agents can search travelers’ phones without suspicion. Health Policy: A new Medicaid study finds pediatric sleep testing for conditions like obstructive sleep apnea varies wildly by location and neighborhood demographics. Vermont Tech & Research: UVM is pushing AI-enabled medical “digital twins,” including a major NSF-backed effort to build a national biological imaging observatory. Public Safety & Justice: Vermont’s family-court approach for 18-year-olds shows lower recidivism than adult criminal court, supporting “Raise the Age” next steps. Local Business/Wellness: Float Away Wellness Spa partnered with UVM Athletics to bring floatation and vibroacoustic therapy to student-athletes.

Privacy & Surveillance Tech: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sen. Jeff Merkley, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unveiled the “Ban Flock Act,” aiming to stop federal use of automatic license plate readers and to block federal grant money for state/local agencies that run them—keeping the Flock Safety debate front and center. Public Health & Policy: A new study reports Vermont family-court handling of 18-year-olds is linked to lower repeat offenses than adult criminal court, bolstering “Raise the Age” plans. AI in Vermont Government: Vermont says it’s moving from AI ethics to an “enablement” phase, training staff to use AI tools to harden cybersecurity and improve routine work. Climate & Energy: New England governors push a regional nuclear roadmap, while states and cities sue over EPA rollbacks of power-plant emissions limits. Health Coverage Costs: ACA marketplace enrollment fell 4.9% as premiums rose 19.7%, signaling subsidy changes are reshaping who buys coverage. Local Tech & Community: Comcast backed Technology for Tomorrow with a $30,000 grant to expand digital navigation training for older adults and new Americans.

UVM & Health Tech: Float Away Wellness Spa is partnering with UVM Athletics to bring floatation and vibroacoustic therapy to Catamount student-athletes—an early sign of how sports recovery is getting more science-backed. Vermont AI in Government: Vermont is moving from AI ethics to “power tools” in state work, using AI to help developers harden cybersecurity across hundreds of applications, while lawmakers raise transparency concerns about how AI is deployed. Tick-Borne Research: Vermont State University students are working on a CRISPR-based approach to detect tick-borne pathogens, building on campus lab work tied to Vermont’s Lyme-vector research. Privacy & Surveillance Tech: Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Jeff Merkley introduced the Ban Flock Act to block federal use and funding for automatic license plate readers—fueling a national debate that’s already hit Vermont-adjacent policy discussions. Climate & Courts: States and cities sued over Trump-era EPA rollbacks on power-plant emissions limits, while the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a major climate accountability case that could reshape future lawsuits. Local Tech & Community: Comcast backed Technology for Tomorrow’s digital navigation program with a $30,000 grant to train Vermonters as support guides for older adults and new Americans.

Vermont Energy Resilience: Green Mountain Power’s home battery “virtual power plant” is now Vermont’s biggest power source, linking 5,500+ leased home batteries to help keep electricity flowing during storms. Climate & Courts: Vermont-area and multistate legal fights are heating up as attorneys general challenge federal rollbacks of power-plant greenhouse gas limits, arguing the changes will worsen pollution and extreme weather. Fuel Economy Fight: AGs including Vermont’s counterparts are also suing over weakened CAFE standards, saying the rules backslide on “maximum feasible” efficiency and raise costs for drivers. UVM Health Tech: UVM is set to build AI “digital twins” for critically ill patients, with major NSF-linked funding aimed at improving treatment decisions. Public Health Equity: UVM Health hosted its fifth annual Health Equity Summit, bringing researchers and community partners together on issues like maternal health, LGBTQ inclusion, and homelessness. Animal Welfare Watch: USDA filed a complaint against a Florida primate sanctuary alleging repeated Animal Welfare Act violations. Local STEM/Community: Students got hands-on conservation learning at a Vermont field day focused on local ecosystems and invasive species.

Digital Health & Research Funding: UVM is leading ARPA-H’s ReSCUED project to build AI “digital twins” for critically ill ICU patients, aiming to test treatment options virtually before bedside decisions. Biology & Imaging: UVM and UC San Diego also landed NSF support for a national biological imaging observatory to expand 3D connectomics access beyond a few labs. Cybersecurity in Schools: Slate Valley Unified School District is still recovering after an early-September cyberattack, working with tech experts and the FBI while addressing staff data exposure. Climate & Power Plant Rules: Vermont AGs and other states/cities are suing over EPA rollbacks of greenhouse gas limits for coal and gas plants, arguing the changes will worsen extreme weather and public health. AI Governance in Vermont: Vermont lawmakers are raising transparency concerns as the state deploys AI cybersecurity tools, including an Anthropic-linked initiative. Energy Tech Policy: States are also moving on balcony/plug-in solar, but safety guidelines haven’t caught up. Local Tech & Business: Cannatrol’s Cool Cure program added Operation Green Healing as a nonprofit partner for veterans’ wellness.

AI & Work: A new map from SmartAsset shows where U.S. jobs are most exposed to AI disruption—Washington leads by share of workers, while California has the most AI-exposed roles overall. Health Tech & Research: UVM and UC San Diego are teaming up on a $19M NSF-funded national biological imaging observatory to expand advanced connectomics and ultrastructure imaging beyond a few labs. Vermont Energy & Climate: Vermont Gas is helping make geothermal pencil out for affordable housing in Hinesburg by paying for the underground ground-loop pipes, with Dandelion Energy handling the system. Education Support: A Vermont-focused interview highlights how neurodiversity diagnoses are rising, but families still struggle to turn paperwork into real school accommodations. Agrivoltaics in Action: A Vermont couple’s solar-grazing model has scaled from 30 sheep to 500, managing vegetation across 1,500 acres of Northeast solar sites. Policy Watch: Vermont’s proposed Age-Appropriate Design Code rules could force changes to how online services present content to minors, with a comment period closing Oct. 2. Consumer Protection: Vermont AG-led efforts seek court approval for a $400M settlement with Sandoz over alleged generic drug price-inflation and reduced competition.

UVM Medical AI Breakthrough: UVM won up to $38M to build AI “digital twins” that model a critically ill patient’s immune response, aiming to test treatments virtually and cut ICU stays by 25%. Vermont AI Governance: Lawmakers questioned the Scott administration’s use of Anthropic AI for cybersecurity stress-testing, saying they weren’t told about the contract and pushing for clearer oversight. Vermont Age-Appropriate Design Rules: Proposed Vermont AADC rules would force online services to redesign how they present content to minors, expanding beyond data limits to restrict “addictive” engagement features and use of behavioral and inferred preference data. Energy Tech in Vermont Yankee Site: A Texas firm is pitching a 110–440 MW battery storage project on the former Vermont Yankee property, with residents raising concerns about cost and safety. Data Center Cost Fight: Vermont’s Bernie Sanders joined a broader push against a bill that would let households and small businesses avoid paying for grid upgrades needed by large data centers. Local Tech & Careers: A Vermont-focused career expo highlighted hands-on training paths beyond four-year degrees, while Vermont’s precision science efforts are helping apple growers fight orchard pests.

Medical AI in Vermont: UVM is leading a up-to-$38M ARPA-H effort to build AI-powered “digital twins” that model critically ill patients’ immune responses in real time, aiming to cut ICU stays by at least 25%. Neuroscience Imaging: UVM also landed a $19M NSF project to create the National Connectomics and Ultrastructure Volume Observatory, pairing high-throughput electron microscopy with AI and big computing to make advanced brain-imaging tools broadly available. Local Tech & Privacy: A crowdsourced map flagged “Flock” ALPR cameras in the Upper Valley, but officials in Hanover say the cameras aren’t what the map claims. Public Safety Incident: Firefighters responded to a lab equipment fire at Dartmouth Medical Center’s Williamson Research Building; no injuries reported and the cause is under investigation. Energy Policy Watch: States are moving on balcony/plug-in solar, but safety guidelines and standards lag behind the fast rollout. Vermont Energy Storage Proposal: Vernon residents questioned a plan for a large battery storage project on the former Vermont Yankee site.

AI & Cybersecurity in Vermont: The Scott administration has started using Anthropic’s Claude Code to scan state IT systems for security weaknesses, but lawmakers say they weren’t told enough about the program’s scope and transparency. Data Centers & Local Power: A coalition of Big Tech, private equity, and unions is pushing back against state moratoriums on data centers, while Vermont-area politics continues to heat up around AI infrastructure and its impacts. Vermont Yankee Reuse Watch: In Vernon, residents grilled PowerTransitions over plans for a large battery storage facility at the former Vermont Yankee site, raising concerns about noise, fire safety, jobs, and taxes. STEM Workforce Pipeline: More than 1,000 Vermont middle and high school students toured career booths at the Workforce in Motion Chittenden County Summit, as state leaders point to youth retention worries. Education Funding Fight: Vermont’s AG Kwame Raoul joined a multistate coalition opposing a Trump proposal that would expand federal discretion over education grant funding. Sustainability Claims Under Scrutiny: A Vermont-based nonprofit says Starbucks’ “widely recyclable” cups aren’t actually being recycled, after tracking found most ending in landfills or incinerators. Health at Home: Dartmouth Health launched an at-home program aimed at rural New Hampshire and Vermont patients, including primary and palliative care plus caregiver support.

AI & Data Centers: Vermont Senate candidate Angie Nixon says she’d co-sponsor Bernie Sanders’ push for a federal moratorium on AI data centers, arguing communities have paid the price before regulators acted. Surveillance Tech: In the Upper Valley, a crowdsourced map flagged Flock license-plate cameras; local officials and police say the reported data is wrong, while residents debate accuracy and accountability. AI Safety Law: Across the country, advocates are pressing states toward 2027 laws that could hold AI developers liable for harms, as Congress weighs weaker consumer-focused proposals. Semiconductors: Japan and the U.S. are discussing a major semiconductor fabrication plant in the U.S. tied to GlobalFoundries, with a price tag reported in the $12.8B–$19.3B range. Energy Resilience: Vermont’s “virtual power plant” program uses home batteries to keep lights on during storms, cutting outage pain for thousands of households. Workforce & STEM: The Workforce In Motion Summit brings Vermont students and job seekers together with employers in tech and skilled trades. Agriculture Tech: Vermont apple growers are using precision science and integrated pest management to hit “pie-ready” fruit targets. Research Funding: UVM is launching a $19M national neuroscience observatory, and UMF is part of an NSF-funded snowpack monitoring network. Local Policy & Tech in Schools: Montclair Public Schools is considering tighter rules on generative AI and devices in classrooms.

AI & Policy Watch: Vermont and other state attorneys general joined a multistate push urging Congress to regulate rapidly evolving generative AI, after warnings from major AI leaders and reports of concerning model behavior. Campus Tech Rules: Montclair Public Schools is weighing tighter classroom limits on generative AI and personal devices, including parent consent for AI use on assignments and grade-by-grade Chromebook expectations. Vermont Research & Climate: UMF is a collaborator on an NSF-funded Snow STORE network, adding high-resolution snowpack monitoring in Maine to track how mountain snow changes over time. Food & Precision Science: Vermont apple growers are using more targeted, weather-aware pest management to protect pie-ready fruit under stricter pesticide rules. Public Safety Tech Backlash: Police say more than a dozen Flock cameras were vandalized in Evansville, with officials warning misinformation is driving attacks. Elections & Data Centers: Vermont Public polling shows Gov. Phil Scott leading Amanda Janoo, while the broader campaign conversation increasingly includes data centers and other tech-linked issues.

Vermont Tech & Education: UVM and Middlebury announced new tuition discounts aimed at easing affordability and recruiting students amid a “demographic cliff,” with UVM offering major discounts for certain out-of-state majors and free tuition for lower-income in-state households, while Middlebury expands free tuition for families up to $175,000. AI & Policy: A new wave of debate keeps heating up nationally over AI safety and regulation, with lawmakers and attorneys general pushing for federal guardrails as public concern about catastrophic risk grows. Energy & Climate Tech: A Vermont-relevant push continues on PFAS cleanup and safer packaging—U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan reintroduced a bill to ban PFAS in food wrappers and packaging. Infrastructure & Sustainability: Sewage heat recovery is getting fresh attention as a practical way to cut heating and cooling energy by using warm wastewater—already operating in multiple cities. Local STEM/Community: Vermont State University–Randolph engineering students competed in the Vermont Society of Engineers golf tournament, a scholarship fundraiser. Agriculture Innovation: The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative grant application window is open for Vermont service providers and producer associations, with a webinar set for Oct. 1. Public Safety/Health: A major nor’easter knocked out power across parts of the Northeast, including smaller outages reported in Vermont.

UVM & Research Funding: UVM is set to receive a $19M grant to build a national neuroscience observatory, aiming to deepen understanding of neurobiology. AI Governance & Safety: A new wave of debate continues over AI safety and regulation, with lawmakers and researchers pushing for guardrails as concerns grow about rapid capability advances. PFAS & Public Health: Sen. Maggie Hassan reintroduced bipartisan legislation to ban PFAS chemicals in food wrappers and packaging, reviving a fight over “forever chemicals” linked to serious health risks. Plastics Policy: A federal bill reintroduced in the Senate would ban toxic substances in plastic beverage bottles and create a remediation fund, with Vermont Sen. Peter Welch among the sponsors. Vermont Education & Affordability: UVM and Middlebury announced major tuition discounts and free-tuition options to attract students amid a looming “demographic cliff.” Materials & Manufacturing: Filabot launched the EX3 Filament Maker System, a benchtop setup for producing custom 3D-printing filament from virgin and recycled plastics. Local Tech & Community: Tri-Valley Transit’s 50th anniversary includes community food drives, and Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture opened a grant for working lands business support and producer associations.