AGP Executive Report

Power & Grid Investment: Hyosung is pushing into the U.S. AI/data-center power market with a 22.9kV solid state transformer, aiming to strengthen American grid stability as demand spikes. Manufacturing Expansion: Brunk Industries plans a $31.7M expansion at RIDC Armstrong Innovation Park in Freeport, adding a new tool-and-die manufacturing facility and 64 jobs, backed by state financing and workforce training support. Electricity Demand Forecast: PPL says electricity use in its territory is set to surge, with the Pennsylvania PUC outlook projecting rapid growth tied to industrial loads, especially new data centers. Data Center Backlash: Across the country, voters and politicians are increasingly pushing back on data centers, with resistance shaping midterm politics and local permitting. Food Safety (York): York County restaurant inspections show mostly pass results, with corrections noted for sanitation, handwashing access, and food-contact cleanliness. Housing for Veterans: A Scranton-area veteran, Jody Tighe, was selected for a Wilkes-Barre “Welcome Home” program home through United NEPA Alliance, supported by a donated lot and ongoing fundraising.

Food & Beverage Dealmaking: Keurig Dr Pepper will sell its Chobani equity stake back to Chobani for $800M plus an Allentown manufacturing facility/warehouse for $125M, totaling $925M, as KDP reshapes its portfolio ahead of a planned split into two public companies in early 2027. Energy & Power Infrastructure: A proposed Old Forge pumped-storage hydro project in Lackawanna/Luzerne counties is drawing local pushback over environmental and health impacts, with residents asking for clearer permitting and safeguards. Clean Energy Tech: PNNL, Fervo Energy and NVIDIA are building an AI “digital twin” to model enhanced geothermal reservoirs in real time, aiming to cut weeks of analysis and improve underground power performance. Workforce & Small Business Capital: SBA and the U.S. Energy Department launched an SBIC-E initiative to spur private investment in energy technologies, targeting small businesses across fossil, nuclear and renewables. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Marysville logged just one scam report in July, while Pennsylvania’s biggest hotspots remain Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Local Services: Keystone Shed Repair LLC publicly launched a shed-only repair service in Southeast Pennsylvania, focusing on roof, siding, doors/windows and carpentry.

Data Center Backlash & Politics: Wall Street and election strategists say AI data centers are becoming a major state and local campaign issue, with opposition shaping November races and adding policy risk to the AI buildout. Pennsylvania Housing & Wages: As Gov. Josh Shapiro and Treasurer Stacy Garrity sharpen their affordability pitch, voters keep tying the economy to daily costs like housing and groceries. Manufacturing Workforce: Northampton Community College opened a Precision Machining and Tool Design Center, backed by a Pennsylvania RACP grant, and launched new machining credentials aimed at faster job placement. Food Safety Inspections: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture restaurant checks flagged issues like improper food storage and pest activity in multiple Central Pennsylvania locations. Agriculture & Invasive Pests: Spotted lanternflies are spreading across the region, threatening trees and crops like grapes and hops. Utilities & Economic Development: PPL Electric Utilities earned national recognition for economic development, citing major capital investment and job creation across manufacturing, agriculture, and life sciences. Cybersecurity: Multiple data-breach investigations are underway, including HumanEdge, Gale Credit Union, and YouLend, with potential exposure of sensitive personal and financial data.

Manufacturing & Jobs: Chobani is moving full steam into Pennsylvania with a $1.2B dairy manufacturing expansion in Upper Macungie Township, targeting 900 new jobs over five years and a major boost in demand for in-state milk. Energy & Grid Planning: A DOE-backed multi-state study puts Pennsylvania in the spotlight for EV charging grid upgrades, estimating distribution investment needs up to $2.3B without managed charging, with proactive planning potentially cutting that by more than half. AI, Data Centers & Local Politics: The backlash against data-center growth and AI power demand keeps spilling into policy fights, while Pennsylvania lawmakers weigh AI-related education legislation and utilities warn about rising cybersecurity threats tied to the buildout. Surveillance Tech: Flock cameras remain a hot campaign issue as more communities reject or suspend automated license plate reader programs, feeding broader concerns about mass surveillance. Regulatory & Corporate Watch: The SEC has filed an enforcement action in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to compel Institutional Shareholder Services to comply with a July subpoena tied to proxy-adviser oversight. Food & Safety: Hazmat incidents and recalls continue to hit the region, including an I-83 gas leak shutdown in York County and ongoing consumer product contamination alerts.

Housing & Construction: Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s new Housing Production Commission held its first meeting, aiming to speed up Pennsylvania homebuilding and tackle barriers like financing for repairs and acquisition of properties. Energy & Power Demand: A new report warns data centers could drive nearly a 19% annual jump in electric demand in Pennsylvania, raising costs and straining infrastructure—just as job growth shows early signs of cooling. Food Safety & Local Business: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture restaurant inspections flagged issues including mold in an ice machine and improper food storage/cleaning, while other spots passed. Stormwater & Infrastructure: Clearfield Borough moved to expedite Reighard Street stormwater repairs after FEMA funding, with permits under DEP review and bids planned ahead of a Sept. 17 council vote. Economic Development: PECO earned national recognition for attracting major commercial projects, citing 27 new investments in 2025 tied to thousands of jobs. Agriculture: Pennsylvania sisters Michelle and Rose Morian won a national Young Jersey Breeder Award, highlighting next-gen dairy leadership in the state. Policy Watch: Pennsylvania lawmakers are advancing bills to regulate kratom sales after rising poison control calls and deaths linked to unregulated products.

Data Centers & Power Demand: Pennsylvania lawmakers and local officials are pushing back on the fast-track data center boom, citing utility-rate pressure, water use, noise/light impacts, and transparency gaps—while reporting shows nearly half of “fast track” municipalities signed NDAs, limiting public access. AI in Schools: State Rep. Pete Schweyer and colleagues are drafting AI guardrails for K-12, including privacy protections, vendor standards, district AI policies, and limits on using AI for mental/behavioral health services. Energy & Environment: Shell Chemicals Appalachia agreed to a $15M settlement with Pennsylvania DEP over air pollution violations at its Beaver County ethane cracker plant, including a community remediation fund. Industry Legal Watch: Energy Transfer is challenging Pennsylvania’s Clean Streams Law as unconstitutional in a bid to weaken potential criminal exposure tied to a jet fuel spill investigation. Manufacturing Workforce: WashU is joining the State Department’s Foundry School effort to boost U.S. manufacturing capacity, with lectures covering factory design, supply chains, and assembly-line engineering. Corporate Moves: Keurig Dr Pepper is selling its Chobani stake and an Allentown plant for about $925M total, with Chobani taking over production and jobs during the transition.

Dairy Manufacturing Boost: Chobani is set to invest $1.2 billion in a Lehigh Valley dairy production facility, targeting about 900 jobs and processing up to 3 billion pounds of milk annually—an agriculture-scale bet for Pennsylvania. Corporate Relocation: Burlington Stores will move its corporate headquarters to Philadelphia’s University City, backing a $370 million project with 2,000 new jobs over five years. Waste-to-Energy: Casella Waste Systems and Waga Energy brought a third renewable natural gas facility online at the McKean Landfill, using WAGABOX tech to upgrade landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG. Wildlife Agency Cost Pressure: A report urges Pennsylvania to consolidate overlapping functions between the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission, projecting up to ~$34 million in annual savings. Data Center Politics & Power Costs: Pennsylvania’s data center backlash is driving election-year scrutiny, including concerns that higher electricity bills could squeeze small businesses, alongside new state moves requiring more local approval. Workforce & Training: The Trump administration’s Foundry School aims to train engineers and technicians for advanced manufacturing needs, including semiconductors and defense. Local Skills in Agriculture: Danville students are using drone-piloting funded by PA Farm Bill grants, building hands-on high-tech agriculture pathways.

Labor Enforcement: Pennsylvania’s labor secretary says the state is launching proactive wage-theft enforcement for home health care workers, sending legal information demands to home health agencies statewide to ensure workers get paid for hours worked and wages owed. Retail & Jobs: Burlington Stores announced it will relocate its corporate headquarters to Philadelphia’s Schuylkill Yards, backed by $30 million in state support and expected to bring at least 2,000 jobs over five years. Energy & Grid Planning: NextEra Energy is making the case for the Mid-Atlantic Resiliency Link (MARL) power line as electricity demand accelerates with data centers and AI. Construction & Manufacturing: Stoelzle Glass USA temporarily laid off about 200 workers at its Monaca plant to complete a $100 million renovation, with workers expected back by February. Food Security: Hunger Action Month coverage highlights food insecurity in Southwestern Pennsylvania, with local food banks reporting demand above pandemic-era levels. Ag Tech: Pennsylvania’s Farm Bill Ag and Youth Grants are funding drone use and other hands-on training for students at Danville High School. Legal Watch: Pennsylvania AGs joined a multi-state lawsuit targeting Amazon’s alleged ad-pricing scheme that overcharged advertisers and may raise consumer prices.

Renewable Gas Expansion: Casella Waste Systems and Waga Energy brought a third renewable natural gas facility online at the McKean Landfill in Mount Jewett, using WagaBOX® tech to upgrade landfill gas into pipeline-quality RNG. Energy & Power Planning: Pennsylvania’s Public Utility Commission says data centers and other large-load customers could sharply reshape electricity demand forecasts, raising the stakes for generation and transmission planning. Defense Manufacturing: GE Aerospace won a contract worth up to $2.8B to supply F414 engine parts for the U.S. Navy’s Super Hornet and Growler, with oversight coordinated through Philadelphia. Aerospace Work in PA: Boeing received a $55.4M order for flight-control actuator systems for MH-47G special operations Chinooks, with work centered at its Ridley Park facility. Retail & Logistics: Walmart plans a $1.3B next-generation fulfillment center in Georgia, part of a broader network that includes Pennsylvania. Food Safety & Inspections: Pennsylvania restaurant inspections flagged issues like improper date marking and cleanliness problems at multiple sites. Data Centers vs. Communities: Coverage continues on growing regulatory and local pushback to data center growth, with Pennsylvania residents and lawmakers weighing impacts. Securities Watch: Investor-deadline alerts hit AEVEX, York Space Systems, Hims & Hers, and GoDaddy over alleged securities fraud.

Privacy & Public Safety: Gov. Josh Shapiro says he has “real concerns” about Flock automated license plate reader cameras and is weighing a ban or tighter rules, while a bipartisan bill would add statewide guardrails for how agencies handle the data. Energy & Manufacturing: Google-backed Mammoth Solar in West Virginia pairs utility-scale solar with lithium and zinc battery storage to deliver dispatchable power for data centers—an approach that could ripple into Pennsylvania’s grid planning. AI Data Centers & Local Impact: A Pennsylvania data center proposal is offering $10,000 payments to Hazle Township households plus community investments, as backlash and power-demand limits keep shaping where projects land. Agriculture & Jobs: Chobani’s $1.2B Pennsylvania move—buying a former Keurig Dr Pepper plant—aims to expand dairy manufacturing and create hundreds of jobs, while local officials say it won’t affect the company’s Rome plans. Labor Enforcement: Pennsylvania is launching audits targeting wage theft in the home healthcare industry after nearly 40% of minimum-wage complaints came from that sector. Logistics & Infrastructure: Oversized “super load” truck convoys are set to move through Armstrong, Westmoreland and Indiana counties for months, with planned bridge closures and slow speeds. Tech Supply Chain: Telit Cinterion will start U.S. production of 4G/5G IoT modules in Bristol, Pa., creating at least 50 jobs. Transportation & Trade: The U.S.-Canada trade war escalates again with new tariffs, raising uncertainty for manufacturers and consumers. Aviation: Contour Airlines launches new daily nonstop service from Williamsport to Charlotte, reopening a broader “gateway to the world” via connections.

Food & Manufacturing Investment: Chobani is moving ahead with a roughly $1.2 billion plan for a new Allentown manufacturing and warehouse campus, expected to add 900+ jobs and eventually process 3+ billion pounds of Pennsylvania milk annually, with production targeted to start in 2027. Energy & Industrial Tech: Air Products expanded hydrogenation testing capabilities at its Allentown lab, aiming to speed customer process development for refining, chemicals, and specialty ingredients. Power Grid & Data Centers: A new push to support around-the-clock clean power for PJM grid demand ties together MN8 solar with Eos long-duration zinc storage and additional battery capacity, reflecting how Pennsylvania-area data center growth is driving new energy projects. Policy & Regulation: Rep. Russ Diamond proposed gaming reform to keep Pennsylvania’s skill games regulated and taxed, after court rulings put the industry’s future in question. Local Business & Food Safety: Pennsylvania restaurant inspection updates show routine compliance checks and occasional fixes, underscoring ongoing pressure on food operators to maintain safe handling. Security Tech in Schools: ZeroEyes renewed its AI gun-detection and threat-awareness deployment with Central Valley School District in Beaver County.

Chobani Investment: Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Chobani’s $1.2B move into Pennsylvania, expanding its Lehigh Valley dairy operation and targeting 900 jobs while boosting demand for local milk. Data Center Power Crunch: The PA Public Utility Commission projects data centers and related power plants could drive electricity demand up nearly 19% a year through 2030, raising planning and cost concerns for existing customers. Local Permitting Fight: In Hanover Township, residents packed hearings over Prime Data Centers’ Starpointe campus proposal, with supervisors weighing a conditional use permit for major data center and gas power plans. Policy Pushback: Trump doubled down on backing data centers, calling opponents “backwards and poor,” while Pennsylvania’s recent rules require new projects to cover energy costs rather than shifting them to ratepayers. Retail Crime Crackdown: AG Dave Sunday highlighted progress from Pennsylvania’s Organized Retail Crime Section at a Cranberry Township Walmart, stressing cross-agency coordination as theft grows more sophisticated. Food Safety: Hodo recalled more than 10,000 cases of tofu after ink from packaging may have migrated into the product; separate recalls also hit mangoes and other foods. Workforce & Training: ECSU named Titus Sanders to lead a new School of Aviation, linking aviation education to regional workforce needs. Consumer/Legal Watch: BMW faces claims over “lifetime” fluid promises tied to suspension/drive system failures.

Food & Jobs: Chobani is moving into the Lehigh Valley with a $1.2 billion manufacturing and warehouse campus in Upper Macungie Township, expected to create 900 full-time jobs over five years and boost demand for Pennsylvania milk—processing more than 3 billion pounds annually at full scale. Corporate Dealmaking: Keurig Dr Pepper will sell its Chobani stake and the Allentown facility/warehouse to Chobani for $925 million as it reshapes its portfolio. Business Services: i9 Sports hit its 300th franchise milestone, with a new Greater York, Pa. territory set to launch its first season in September. Food Safety: Panorama Produce recalled 302 boxes of mangoes sold at select Walmart stores in CT, NY, NJ and PA due to possible Salmonella contamination; Hodo also recalled select lots of Lightly Fried Chili Crisp Tofu in 29 states, including Pennsylvania, over ink migration concerns. Regulatory/Industry Backdrop: A Reuters report says data centers have requested huge amounts of electricity in parts of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and South—prompting states including Pennsylvania to tighten rules as utilities and regulators try to separate real projects from speculative ones. Tech Leadership: Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, takes over from Tim Cook as the company faces AI and product pressure. Small Business Relief: The SBA is offering low-interest disaster loans for drought damage in multiple Pennsylvania counties, including Berks and Lehigh.

Energy & Grid Reliability: A nuclear expert argues nuclear plants can run up to 100 years and, when paired with renewables and other sources, can keep the grid cheaper and more reliable than relying on shorter-lived solar and wind. AI Infrastructure Politics: U.S. Sen. John Fetterman backed Trump’s “Let Data Reign” stance on data centers, while a Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for White House ballroom construction to continue, underscoring how legal challenges can stall—or fail to stall—major projects. Consumer & Business Protection: The FTC and 22 states, including Pennsylvania, sued Amazon alleging a “secret ad surcharge” scheme that inflated sponsored ad prices for more than a million advertisers, potentially costing tens of billions. Fuel & Logistics: The PA Turnpike expects about 2.9 million travelers over Labor Day and will suspend construction to keep lanes open. Workforce & Compliance: Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry reminded employers and families about Child Labor Act rules as students return to work. Hydrogen & Manufacturing R&D: Air Products expanded hydrogenation capabilities at its Allentown lab to support refining, chemicals, and pharma process testing. Local Business: Erie’s Blind Tiger non-alcoholic spirits won top honors at the National Buffalo Wing Festival, boosting regional food-and-drink visibility. Legal Watch: The Third Circuit upheld fraud convictions for ex-biofuel executives tied to IRS/EPA fuel subsidies.

Data Center Politics: A new wave of backlash is hitting Pennsylvania races as voters and candidates argue over power bills, noise, water use, and local control of hyperscale AI data centers, with Lancaster County’s 36th Senate District spotlighting the issue. Energy & Industry: CBRE reports the North American data-center buildout is accelerating but supply is tightening fast, intensifying the scramble for electricity, land, and approvals. Healthcare & Public Health: FDA expanded a white rice recall affecting Lundberg Family Farms Jasmine White Rice (32-ounce bags) distributed in multiple states including Pennsylvania; separate tofu recalls also continue to surface. Transit Infrastructure: SEPTA broke ground on a $44M accessibility upgrade at 11th Street Station, adding elevators to make the L line stop fully ADA compliant. Food Safety (Local): Pennsylvania restaurant inspections in York and other counties flagged issues like improper food handling and sanitation, with some sites passing after corrections. Manufacturing & Jobs: Construction is underway near Penn for a $450M facility to produce actinium-225 for cancer treatments, aiming for operations in 2029. Corporate Leadership: Apple’s CEO transition is set for Sept. 1, with hardware leader John Ternus taking over as Tim Cook becomes executive chairman.

Data Center Policy in Pennsylvania: Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order tightening environmental and transparency rules for new data centers, including a GRID standards agreement tied to permit review, proof of local approvals, limits on NDAs, and changes to the state sales tax exemption and Fast Track treatment. Local Energy & Fuel Costs: GasBuddy reported the lowest premium gas in Somerset County at $4.86/gal (week ending Aug. 22) and the lowest premium in Lawrence County at $4.78/gal; E15 and E85 prices also eased in multiple counties. Food Safety Recalls: The FDA expanded a Lundberg Family Farms white jasmine rice recall (54,648 pounds; UPC 073416040281; lots 260201MA/260202MA, best-before Feb. 2027) to multiple states including Pennsylvania. Ag Plastics Disposal: Penn State research highlights why farmers struggle to dispose of farm plastics responsibly, with burning often driven by hauling and tipping fees and a weak recycling market. Workforce & Economic Development: Chester County Economic Development Council named Mike Grigalonis CEO, and the Springdale Chamber hired a director of economic development. Healthcare Labor: Reports point to hospital strikes fueled by violence against workers and staffing shortages. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker shows Ambridge among Pennsylvania cities with scam reports in July, with losses tied to online purchase schemes.