AGP Executive Report

Power & Grid Planning: Fall River Electric Partners says a new PNGC Power natural-gas plant in northern Idaho is aimed at reliable, lower-emitting electricity and could later support hydrogen blending. Wildfire Readiness: Island Park is hosting a hands-on Forest Service workshop Aug. 6 on safer slash-pile burning and home hardening as drought and heat raise fire risk. Nuclear Fuel Race (Idaho in the mix): DOE picked Louisiana for talks on a nuclear fuel campus, while Idaho remains among the states competing for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses; Utah also signed an MoU with DOE to explore a Tooele County site. Workforce & Training: Gillette College will expand nuclear-related construction and chemical tech programs with federal funding tied to the Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor Tech Hub. Mining & Metals: Hecla reported strong Q2 exploration results at Keno Hill, Midas and Greens Creek, including new high-grade veins and extensions of mineralization. Local Infrastructure: Adams County opened bids for a bridge replacement project, with the low bid coming in around $2.04M. Health & Safety: Idaho-area air quality remains strained from wildfire smoke, with health impacts highlighted as conditions worsen. Food Recall: USDA recalled about 12,036 pounds of Canadian smoked bacon shipped to Idaho, Oregon and Washington after missed import reinspection.

Nuclear Energy & Jobs: The U.S. Department of Energy has named Idaho among five states in the running to host a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, a plan that could link uranium enrichment, fuel fabrication, used-fuel reprocessing, long-term waste work—and potentially advanced reactors and data-center power—aimed at drawing up to $50B in investment and creating thousands of jobs. Local Economy & Workforce: The DOE’s non-binding agreements set up further talks with Idaho, Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Louisiana, with host selections expected later in 2026. Food & Agriculture Safety: USDA ordered a recall of more than 12,000 pounds of Canadian smoked bacon sold at Grocery Outlet in Idaho, Oregon and Washington after reinspection issues. Regional Competitiveness: A new labor-market comparison puts Idaho’s unemployment at 3.7% in June, higher than neighboring Wyoming and Montana, while Washington trails at 5.2%. Idaho Business Spotlight: An Idaho Falls beauty brand, Poppy & Pout, says it built a national retail footprint starting with $400 and no venture funding.

Nuclear Fuel Push for Idaho: The U.S. Department of Energy picked Idaho as a potential host for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, joining Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Louisiana, with talks aimed at modernizing the nuclear fuel cycle and boosting manufacturing and jobs. AI Meets Nuclear: DOE’s Project Prometheus backs a $60 million, Idaho National Laboratory-led effort to use AI to speed nuclear licensing, manufacturing and operations, tying into the broader push to power data centers. Regional Jobs Snapshot: A new look at unemployment rates puts Wyoming and Montana near the bottom nationally, while Idaho sits mid-pack, offering a quick read on how business climates are playing out across the Mountain West. Food Supply Scrutiny: USDA recalled more than 12,000 pounds of Canadian bacon sold in Idaho after a missed U.S. reinspection step—no illnesses reported. Air Quality Alert: Boise-area air hit “very unhealthy” levels from wildfire smoke, with outdoor burning banned and outdoor activities disrupted. Local Agriculture Spotlight: Minidoka County Fair in Rupert marked 78 years of 4-H and Western heritage.

AI in Idaho Governance: State Rep. Jordan Redman is using an agentive A.I. “Jarvis” to speed up research and decision-making, aiming to make Idaho’s legislative work more efficient. Nuclear Investment: Paradigm led a $470M funding round for Antares Nuclear to accelerate military small modular reactors, with first power targeted next year and U.S. base deployments by 2028. Idaho Data Center Backlash: A national debate is heating up over Idaho’s and other states’ tax breaks and ratepayer pledges for data centers, with critics warning the deals may shift costs to residents. Local Government Budget Pressure: Coeur d’Alene is facing an estimated $3.1M deficit and may raise residential property taxes to close the gap. Cleanup & Construction: The Page Repository in the Coeur d’Alene Basin is using construction concrete as part of the Bunker Hill Superfund cleanup, explaining why large concrete stockpiles are showing up on site. Wildfire Smoke Impacts: Treasure Valley residents are dealing with the nation’s worst air quality from wildfire smoke, prompting safety guidance for workers and the public. Water Temperature Management: The Army Corps of Engineers released cold water from Dworshak Dam to cool the Clearwater and Snake rivers and protect salmon and steelhead. Idaho Economy Snapshot: Idaho’s unemployment rate sits at 3.7%, ranking mid-pack among neighboring Mountain West states. Agriculture & Food Costs: Idaho shoppers report a major jump in produce spending as grocery prices push households toward less fresh food. Mining & Jobs Pipeline: A federal tech hub grant is set to support nuclear workforce training and supply-chain growth across Idaho and Wyoming. Legal Fight in Moscow: Bryan Kohberger is seeking to retract his guilty plea in the University of Idaho killings case, drawing sharp responses from victims’ families.

Idaho Agribusiness vs. Supreme Court: An Idaho fertilizer company is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a Ninth Circuit ruling that blocked a federal land transfer tied to tribal concerns over contamination from a planned fertilizer plant expansion, arguing it threatens food security, jobs, and economic activity. Food Costs: A national survey says Idaho shoppers are seeing the second-highest increase in produce spending nationwide, with households reporting about a $52 monthly jump in fruit and vegetable costs and shifting toward frozen, canned, and processed options. Construction & Materials: Frontier Credit Union’s new regional headquarters in Meridian is set to open this fall as Idaho’s tallest mass-timber building, a roughly $10 million, 30,000-square-foot project built largely with engineered wood. Mining Watch: Work continues at Stibnite Mine even as lawsuits drag on, with crews advancing logistics and road-building plans. Public Safety/Utilities: Idaho Falls crews repaired a hit 12-inch water main near the Wes Deist Aquatic Center after a construction strike, restoring service after about two and a half hours. Hydropower Policy: Idaho Sen. Jim Risch joined a new federal push to make hydropower licensing more affordable by limiting certain mandatory license conditions. Food Recall: Maple Leaf Foods recalled 12,036 pounds of smoked bacon imported from Canada after it entered without required reinspection, with distribution reported in Idaho.

AI Data Center Power & Grid Reform: A new push for PJM governance changes is heating up as the grid operator plans 30+ GW of new load by 2030, with ratepayer costs rising and FERC signaling reforms are coming. Idaho Solar for Data Centers: Idaho’s Pleasant Valley 2 solar farm is now online, enough for up to 25,000 homes, but most output is already spoken for by Meta’s Kuna data center. Energy Costs at the Pump: AAA reports Idaho gas prices climbing again as Middle East tensions threaten crude shipping routes. Critical Minerals & Rare Earths: A new look at 2026 supply chains highlights heavy rare earth development, including Idaho yttrium prospects, as countries diversify sourcing. Semiconductor Industrial Investment: Air Liquide’s $150M Idaho plan targets industrial gas for AI-driven chip manufacturing. Healthcare & Records Fight: The CPSC is pressing major hospital systems to turn over emergency-room patient records, raising major privacy and legal questions. Local Governance & ICE: An Idaho sheriff testifies against state moves that would require law enforcement to pursue ICE partnerships. Food & Agriculture Watch: Idaho-linked recalls include Amy’s lentil soup spoilage risk; meanwhile, Idaho grain crops are described as faring better than expected after a harsh winter. Community & Agriculture Events: Caribou County Fair returns Aug. 3–8 with rodeo, tractor pulls, and 4-H/FFA at the center. Business Results: The Ensign Group reports Q2 2026 results, citing strong demand and disciplined acquisition growth.

Semiconductor supply chain: Air Liquide says it will invest $150 million in Idaho to build an industrial gas facility supplying ultra-pure nitrogen, oxygen and argon for next-wave AI-driven memory chip manufacturing, with operations targeted for 2028. Chip manufacturing momentum: Micron also announced new strategic customer agreements with major automotive Tier 1 partners (including Qualcomm, DENSO and HARMAN), underscoring Idaho’s role in memory and storage for the software-defined vehicle. Energy + water policy: Idaho’s Rep. Mike Simpson is highlighted as part of a bipartisan push for Colorado River drought relief funding, aimed at protecting agriculture and municipal water supplies. Local governance + privacy: Post Falls Mayor Randy Westlund says the city won’t use Flock cameras, calling them unconstitutional mass surveillance and urging state law changes to limit retention. Food industry watch: USDA reported a recall of imported Canadian smoked bacon distributed into Idaho, while Amy’s Organic Lentil Soup was recalled in multiple states including Idaho due to a pull-tab manufacturing defect and spoilage risk. Transportation costs: AAA Idaho reports gas prices rising again as Middle East tensions threaten crude shipping routes, pushing Idaho regular to about $4.23 a gallon. Community ties: Idaho Falls marked 45 years of friendship with Japan’s Tokai-Mura through a youth Sister Cities exchange.

Semiconductor investment: Air Liquide is committing $150 million to build an industrial gas facility in Idaho to support AI-driven chip manufacturing, signaling more industrial scale-up for the state’s tech supply chain. Chip supply chain: Micron says it has completed strategic customer agreements with seven automotive Tier 1 partners (including Qualcomm, DENSO and HARMAN), locking in memory and storage demand for vehicle production. Energy and minerals: A new critical minerals supply-chain look highlights Idaho’s role in rare-earth and heavy-mineral recovery as global sourcing shifts toward seabed and unconventional extraction. Local workforce training: North Idaho College received a Caterpillar 420E loader backhoe donation for its heavy equipment operator apprenticeship, aimed at construction, infrastructure, mining and timber employers. Recreation and infrastructure: Upper Mesa Falls will close Aug. 10 through winter for road repairs and chip sealing, affecting fall semester visitors. Food safety: Amy’s Organic Lentil Soup (184,200 cans) is recalled in Idaho and 26 other states over a pull-tab manufacturing defect tied to spoilage risk. Public safety policy: A Post Falls mayor opposes Flock cameras, calling them unconstitutional mass surveillance and urging state law changes.

Energy & Cost of Living: AAA Idaho reports gas prices jumped again for a third straight week, with regular averaging $4.23 Friday as Middle East shipping disruptions threaten crude supply. Semiconductors & Industrial Investment: Air Liquide plans a $150M Idaho industrial gas facility to supply ultra-pure nitrogen, oxygen and argon for next-gen memory chip manufacturing, with operations targeted for 2028. Chip Supply Chain: Micron says it completed strategic customer agreements with seven automotive Tier 1 partners (including Qualcomm and DENSO), aiming to lock in long-term memory and storage demand. Food Safety: Amy’s Organic Lentil Soup (Light in Sodium) is recalled in 27 states, including Idaho, after a manufacturing defect tied to spoilage risk; separate recalls also hit eggs and bacon products this week. Public Safety & Privacy: Post Falls Mayor Randy Westlund says the city won’t use Flock cameras, calling them unconstitutional mass surveillance and pushing for faster deletion of stored data. Local Governance: Idaho Falls hosts Japanese Sister City youth delegates for 45 years of friendship, with visits spanning local schools, INL, and community events. Agriculture & Markets: Idaho grain crops reportedly fared better than expected after a harsh winter, easing some pressure on producers.

AI Chip Supply Chain: Air Liquide is committing more than $150 million to build an Idaho industrial gas facility (ultra-pure nitrogen, oxygen and argon) for 2028-era memory chip manufacturing, aiming to keep advanced semiconductor production scaling. Data Center Power Politics: Spokane County leaders reportedly held discussions with a data center developer about a massive West Plains facility, as the broader debate over electricity demand and local costs keeps heating up. Ratepayer Protection Push: Gov. Little joined the White House push expanding Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, seeking to keep new data-center power costs from landing on existing Idaho households and businesses. Congressional Water Relief: Rep. Elijah Crane joined a bipartisan call for federal Colorado River drought relief investment, with Idaho’s Rep. Mike Simpson highlighted for his long-running work on water and environmental policy. Idaho Agriculture Watch: University of Idaho research says southern and eastern Idaho grain crops took major hits from drought stress, frost and pests, but overall recovery was better than expected in many fields. Wildfire Response: Crews gained ground on the Upper Smith Fire near Bonners Ferry, with containment rising to 15% as operations focus on protecting homes and nearby agricultural areas. Public Safety & Privacy: Post Falls Mayor reiterated the city won’t use Flock cameras, citing opposition to mass surveillance while describing limited, case-linked license-plate camera use.

Wildlife & Public Safety: Idaho Fish and Game relocated a young cow moose from Lewiston after staff determined capture and transport were the safest option in hot conditions, aiming to reduce future conflicts as moose wander into neighborhoods and roadways. Transit Funding: Valley Regional Transit says Idaho’s lack of state transit funding leaves city-by-city contracts and annual budget uncertainty, limiting reliable planning for Treasure Valley connectivity. Nuclear & AI Investment: The DOE awarded $60M over three years to INL-led Prometheus, using AI to speed reactor design, licensing, fuel work and legacy document management, as Idaho and partners push the next wave of nuclear deployment. Water Management: An updated Idaho curtailment order increases what Eastern Snake Plain groundwater pumpers owe a surface-water coalition, citing low snowpack, warm/dry weather, and below-average streamflows. Energy Costs Politics: Trump expanded a “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” to cover data center power infrastructure costs, but critics call it non-binding and question whether bills will actually fall. Food Recall: Amy’s Kitchen recalled 184,000+ cans of organic lentil soup due to a pull-tab defect that could lead to spoilage, including distribution in Idaho. Heat Watch: A major heat dome threatens record-challenging temperatures across the West and Plains, raising drought risk and accelerating soil moisture loss.

Idaho Music Census: Boise State’s Idaho Policy Institute, Duck Club Entertainment (Treefort), and Music Idaho launched a statewide survey to map Idaho’s music workforce and its economic impact—aiming to guide investment and growth beyond the capital. Historic Preservation: A federal panel is set to vote on a major rewrite of historic preservation review rules that Idaho advocates warn could gut protections for places like Historic Downtown Pocatello, tribal lands, and rural landscapes. Rare Earths Mining: Idaho Strategies Resources says its Diamond Creek project found strong heavy rare earths, including yttrium, with surface sampling averaging 1.8% TREO and HREO enrichment above 2,000 ppm. Energy & Jobs: Idaho National Laboratory’s operator, Battelle Energy Alliance, agreed to pay $5 million to resolve EEOC charges tied to its COVID vaccine mandate, affecting more than 100 workers. Agriculture: Idaho sugar beet growers say foreign imports are undercutting prices, with some farmers losing about $500 per acre and lawmakers pushing for updated tariffs. Construction Skills: North Idaho College received a Caterpillar 420E backhoe donation to expand its heavy equipment operator apprenticeship training for construction, infrastructure, mining, and timber. Data Centers & Power Costs: The White House expanded its Ratepayer Protection Pledge, adding governors and utilities to push data-center companies to cover grid upgrade costs instead of shifting them to households.

Idaho Conservation & Jobs: A new study commissioned by the Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts says its 17 member land trusts generate nearly $190M in annual economic activity, support 800+ jobs, and contribute $7M+ in tax revenue, tying conservation to agriculture, forestry, grazing, tourism and land-trust operations. AI Power & Data Centers: President Trump expanded his Ratepayer Protection Pledge, adding governors and utilities to push the idea that AI data centers should pay their own energy and infrastructure costs instead of shifting bills to households; Idaho Gov. Brad Little is among the signers. Idaho Nuclear Tech: Idaho National Laboratory is part of the Prometheus project under DOE’s Genesis Mission, a $60M AI push involving Nvidia, AWS and multiple SMR firms to speed advanced nuclear deployment. Retail & Grocery: Boise-based Albertsons reported weaker sales and launched ACI Edge restructuring, consolidating 11 divisions into four regions as it cuts its outlook. Food Safety: Amy’s Kitchen recalled 184,000+ cans of Organic Lentil Soup due to a can lid defect that could lead to spoilage; the affected product was distributed in Idaho and many other states. Mining & Land Use: Conservation groups are still fighting the Forest Service approval of Perpetua Resources’ mining plan, seeking to halt construction while appeals continue.

Idaho Power & Data Centers: Idaho Power briefed county leaders on how it’s planning for fast load growth and reliability as data centers and solar projects expand, including siting and safety priorities. Nuclear Renaissance: Idaho-Wyoming’s nuclear push just landed a $31M federal award for an Intermountain-West Energy Corridor Tech Hub, targeting advanced fuel work, testing, and workforce training. Solar for Tech Demand: rPlus Energies commissioned the 125MW Pleasant Valley 2 solar farm in Ada County—power tied to Meta’s Kuna data center buildout—adding capacity as Idaho Power forecasts steep demand growth. AI in Schools: A new Idaho law is rolling out AI literacy guidance for schools, with Micron supporting teacher and student training. Agriculture & Health: Bird flu is easing in Idaho dairy herds, with quarantines down about 24% from the year’s peak. Food Safety: A lettuce-linked parasite outbreak is spreading across 41 states, with Idaho among the first this summer. Local Business: A new hangar-based restaurant, Crop Dusters Grill, opened in St. Anthony, leaning into the area’s aviation and agriculture identity. Water & Conservation: In the Inland Northwest, drought pressure is pushing more residents toward drier, lower-water landscaping instead of traditional turf.

Advanced Nuclear & AI: X-energy joined Idaho National Laboratory’s Prometheus project, a $60M DOE Genesis Mission effort pairing AI with small modular reactor tech to speed deployment and cut costs. Energy Oversight Watch: Lobbyists are bracing for aggressive oversight of oil and gas ties if Democrats gain Congress, with attention on DOE reviews and critical-minerals and data-center-related deals. Local Healthcare Workforce: Norco and St. Luke’s backed College of Western Idaho’s health education push, with the Nampa Health & Science Building renamed Norco Health & Science. Downtown Boise Growth: CCDC broke ground on a 446-stall parking and commercial project at 1010 W. Jefferson, adding space for early education via the Treasure Valley YMCA center. Idaho Agriculture Education: UI Extension’s 4-H AgRobotics team ran its Vet-Bot Challenge using LEGO robots, training youth for real-world vet science basics. Community & Planning: Orofino appointed Nikki Freeman to its Planning and Zoning Commission. Historic Preservation: Bovill’s Historic Commercial District nomination advanced to the NPS for final review. Business & Real Estate: Clearwater County commercial property assessments drew major concern after assessed values jumped, tied to state ratio-study compliance. Tech/Workforce Signals: HGP Intelligent Energy joined Prometheus as a commercial partner focused on AI-driven nuclear operations.

Nuclear & Tech Hubs: Idaho National Laboratory will help lead the Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor (INEC) Tech Hub after a $31M federal grant, aiming to grow small modular reactor work and workforce training across Idaho and Wyoming. Power & Renewables: rPlus Energies brought Pleasant Valley Solar 2 online and started the 400 MWac Blacks Creek Energy Center in Ada County, pushing Idaho past 1 GW of solar-plus-storage development. Infrastructure: U.S. 20 resurfacing between Idaho Falls and Rigby is nearing completion, with crews working nights to keep lanes open; Bogus Basin Road will shift to one lane near mile marker 10 after storm washouts. Water & Agriculture: A drought emergency is hitting Treasure Valley farms with reduced irrigation allotments and potential six-figure losses; Caldwell is preparing for a tougher irrigation season with conservation schedules. Local Growth & Industry: Meridian approved “The Fields,” a major mixed-use plan with about 1,000 homes plus retail and light industrial space, drawing traffic and infrastructure concerns. Public Safety & Health: Post Falls became Idaho’s first city to sign an ICE 287(g) deal; Bingham Healthcare opened a new 1st Choice Urgent Care in Idaho Falls. Data Centers Debate: Sandpoint council moved toward prohibiting large-scale AI data centers after residents raised concerns about impacts and oversight. Food & Consumer: Pizza Ranch is set to open in Idaho Falls. Legal/Settlements: Idaho AG announced a $29.6M Glenmark settlement over generic drug price-fixing, and INL discrimination complaints tied to COVID-era vaccine policy were resolved with a $5M settlement.