AGP Executive Report

Extreme Heat & Climate Change: A new World Weather Attribution analysis says this Fourth of July heat wave would be “virtually impossible” without fossil-fuel pollution, with a heat dome over the Northeast driving record-breaking temperatures and dangerous humidity. Grid Strain & Cooling: As air conditioning demand spikes, officials across the region are urging power conservation and opening cooling centers; Baltimore extended its Code Red Extreme Heat alert through Sunday. Local Heat Response in Virginia: Charlottesville opened cooling centers and closed its farmers market early as heat index values climbed toward 111°F, while Virginia Beach prepared for crowds with mitigation staff monitoring conditions. Data Centers vs. Water/Energy: Virginia’s debate over data centers continues as Prince William’s massive QTS project is effectively blocked after an appeals court ruling, and residents elsewhere keep pushing for stricter rules amid electricity and water concerns. Public Health Watch: A listeria outbreak tied to requesón has reached Illinois, Maryland, New York, and Virginia, with most cases among Hispanic patients.

Heat & Power Strain: Virginia is bracing for a dangerous Fourth of July heat wave, with officials warning of extreme heat index values and urging residents to use cooling centers and check on vulnerable neighbors. Data Centers, Grid Stress: As heat drives record electricity demand, the U.S. Energy Department directed data centers in the PJM region to rely on backup power to protect grid reliability for homes and air conditioning. Local Impacts of AI Growth: Reuters reports Blackstone’s QTS terminated its planned Digital Gateway data center project in Virginia and withdrew related filings after years of planning and regulatory review—amid mounting local concerns about electricity, land, water, and environmental impacts. Water Pollution Enforcement: DEQ proposed a consent order tied to repeated wastewater overflows at the Wintergreen Mountain Wastewater Treatment Plant in Nelson County, including an estimated 11.2 million gallons discharged over about 70 days. Wildlife Conservation: Smithsonian conservationists are helping black-footed ferrets make a comeback, continuing reintroduction work after the species’ near-extinction. Bay Health: A Chesapeake Bay Foundation update says blue crab numbers rose this year, but long-term declines remain a concern, with continued calls for pollution prevention and habitat restoration.

Heat & Public Safety: Gov. Abigail Spanberger warned Virginians to prepare for a dangerous, humid heat wave through the Fourth of July weekend, with heat indexes possibly reaching 115°F and officials urging hydration, A/C use, and never leaving kids or pets in cars. Local Cooling Access: Albemarle County is waiving swimming fees at select parks Thursday through Saturday and pointing residents to cooling centers and air-conditioned public spaces. Drought & Water Impacts: Virginia wildlife officials cautioned that low water levels and higher fire danger can make boating riskier, with hazards more likely when reservoirs and launches are shallow. Waste Reduction: Virginia’s styrofoam food container ban is now fully in effect, with violations carrying a $50-per-day civil fine. Data Centers & Power Demand: A guest column argues data center growth is worsening grid strain and could drive more fossil power plants—raising pollution and bills—while another piece highlights how public opposition can demand steep local compensation. Chesapeake Bay Research: Spanberger secured $2 million to fund a menhaden study tied to Chesapeake Bay health.

Permitting & Water Quality: Virginia DEQ will hold a public hearing July 8 (6 p.m.) on the Washington and Lee golf facility permit, with critics focused on groundwater withdrawals, contamination cleanup, and chemical use in the Woods Creek watershed. Drought Science: JMU researchers explain “flash droughts,” which can intensify in weeks and rapidly stress ecosystems and crops. Heat Safety: As extreme heat grips the region heading into July 4, Virginia health officials urge simple steps—hydration, limiting strenuous outdoor time, and knowing heat illness warning signs—while Delaware issues an Extreme Heat Warning through July 4. Water Conservation: Richmond-area localities move forward with voluntary restrictions due to ongoing James River watershed drought impacts. Food Safety: Virginia health experts warn cookout food can become unsafe in hot weather if not kept cold or cooked properly. Waste & Composting: A Backyard Compost Challenge helped 85 households keep about 2 tons of food waste out of landfills, while local solid-waste updates highlight regional landfill capacity shifts.

Heat & Drought Safety: Virginia officials are urging caution as a dangerous July 4 heat wave and drought conditions raise risks for heat illness and outdoor recreation, with low water levels also affecting boating and fishing access. Coastal Resilience: Virginia is set to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a move tied to carbon allowance costs and new rebate funding, while Hampton Roads communities like Norfolk continue pushing for shoreline protection as erosion and flooding pressures grow. Permits & Pollution Watch: Waynesboro is holding a public hearing on Northrop Grumman’s air permit for an advanced electronics facility, with limits on hazardous air pollutants. Wildlife & Community Nature: Nelson County naturalist Susan McSwain will speak at Oakland Museum on how Virginia’s wildlife and habitats have changed over time, including what’s been lost and what’s returning. Rail Trail Planning: VDOT is seeking public comment on an 11.3-mile Eastern Shore Rail to Trail segment in Northampton County, with a comment deadline of July 6. Data Centers Debate: Virginia’s data-center boom continues to spark local opposition over impacts like pollution, water use, and diesel backup power.

Budget & Data Centers: Virginia lawmakers finalized the 2026-28 budget, including a new tax on data center electricity consumption expected to raise about $1.2B over two years, plus other changes like a retail marijuana framework. Heat Preparedness: With extreme heat looming, Virginia localities are opening cooling options and extending hours for libraries and community sites, while D.C. and nearby areas issue heat advisories and watches for the July 4 stretch. Agriculture Disaster: USDA issued a secretarial disaster declaration for 43 Virginia counties (plus 61 contiguous) after late spring frost and freeze damage, unlocking federal help for farmers and forestry. Chesapeake Bay Science: The budget also funds a long-awaited menhaden study at William & Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science, aiming to clarify concerns about the bay’s forage fish and ripple effects up the food web. Wildlife & Community: Henrico’s Capital Trees ran a tree-identification course to boost local climate and restoration awareness, while Virginia Beach rolled out stricter EPS polystyrene rules for food containers. Local Economy: GO Virginia released $5.6M in Growth and Opportunity grants, including $61,409 to prep an industrial park site in Washington County for advanced manufacturing and logistics.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Virginia’s new two-year budget keeps sales-tax breaks for data centers but adds an energy-use tax—$.011 per kilowatt-hour, capped at $600 million a year—aimed at easing residents’ concerns about the industry’s rapid growth and grid strain. Heat & Public Safety: A heat dome is forecast to push record-shattering temperatures across the Mid-Atlantic, including Virginia, with Staunton/Augusta/Waynesboro expected to hit around 100°F July 1–3 and dangerous heat-index conditions. Drought & Watering Guidance: With much of Virginia under drought warnings, officials urge residents to water early, soak deeply near roots, and use mulch to stretch limited supplies. Boating Safety: Ahead of July 4, Virginia’s Operation Dry Water ramps up enforcement and outreach to cut down on alcohol-related boating deaths. Schools & Discrimination Oversight: Fairfax County NAACP calls for faster, clearer handling of anti-Black bias complaints in FCPS, including better training and communication with families. Wildlife & Habitat: Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are seeing an unprecedented surge in residential ant infestations tied to recent environmental conditions.

Virginia Water & Drought Watch: Virginia utilities and officials are bracing for possible water restrictions as drought deepens, with DEQ warning an emergency declaration could be coming; meanwhile, Fairfax County leaders are pushing back on restrictions they say aren’t needed if Potomac conditions hold. Budget & Energy Policy: Virginia lawmakers approved Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s budget amendments, ending the long impasse and locking in a new electricity-consumption tax on large data centers, plus other changes tied to affordability and services. Solar on Farms: Spanberger signed legislation defining “agrivoltaics,” aiming to protect farmland while scaling solar projects that keep land in production. State Park Funding: The General Assembly approved funding to move forward with Oak Hill State Park, preserving James Monroe’s home and securing federal, private, and state dollars. Local Infrastructure: VDOT lifted many July 4 lane closures, and a Route 58 flyover ramp near a Suffolk landfill is set to open, improving safety by reducing crossover traffic conflicts. Public Health & Safety: Virginia Lake and Teglia Park are under harmful-algal-bloom watch/advisories, urging caution for swimmers and boaters.

Venezuela Earthquake Relief: Virginia Urban Search & Rescue teams helped pull a father and his young son alive from rubble in La Guaira days after the deadly 7.2 and 7.5 quakes, a rare “miracle” as hopes dimmed. Reflecting Pool Cleanup Politics: A CNN report says the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s “ozone nanobubbler” effort—meant to clear algae and other buildup—has become a national flashpoint, with the contractor now facing intense scrutiny over whether the tech can deliver on a long-troubled renovation. Data Centers & Power Costs: New analysis warns that meeting AI-driven electricity demand could add tens of billions to bills annually, while Virginia lawmakers weigh how much the state’s grid and ratepayers should absorb. Virginia Budget & Oversight: With the new fiscal year starting Tuesday, Virginia’s General Assembly returns Monday to consider Gov. Spanberger’s budget amendments, including fallout from the data-center incentive fight. Local Water Notice: Bridgeport, W.Va. will flush fire hydrants June 29–July 10, with possible temporary discoloration or low pressure but “no health risk.” Lynchburg Fire Department Review: A released assessment finds Lynchburg’s fire department lacks diversity and recommends recruitment, hiring, and culture changes ahead of a new chief starting July 1.

Venezuela Earthquakes Response: Virginia Urban Search & Rescue teams helped pull a father and son alive from rubble in La Guaira after days of no signs of life, as international search efforts continue and the death toll climbs. Flooding & Heat Risk: After heavy rain and a flood warning for Northern Virginia, the DC region is set for a brief break before dangerous heat builds midweek, with heat index values near 100 by the Fourth of July weekend. Virginia Drought Watch: Metro Richmond is monitoring James River flows and could face a voluntary water conservation advisory July 1 as severe drought persists and more systems already have mandatory measures. Water Safety for Holiday Boating: Virginia State Police Conservation Officers are urging life jackets, float plans, and extra caution as low water levels add hazards for boaters and swimmers. Clean Shipping Push: U.S. lawmakers reintroduced the Next Generation Shipping Act, aiming to cut port and shipping pollution by funding zero-emission ships and cleaner port infrastructure. Public Lands Access: A new trail connection at Seven Bends State Park links to Massanutten Mountain and the George Washington National Forest, improving access while using sustainable trail design. Data Centers & Air Quality: Reporting highlights how backup generators at data centers can run more often than people assume, adding diesel/gas pollution that can worsen asthma and heart risks. Wildlife & Courts: The Virginia Supreme Court overturned all Frederick County convictions of “Doc Antle” in the lion-cub case, dismissing the indictments.

Extreme Heat & Storm Risk: A muggy, partly cloudy Sunday is on tap for the Richmond area, with showers and storms possible this afternoon into early evening and a marginal severe risk; then a major warming trend pushes highs into the 90s Tuesday and near/above 100° by Thursday–Saturday, with heat index values topping 105–110° and record highs in play. Drought Deepens in Virginia: Southside farmers are feeling the squeeze as Virginia’s worst drought in nearly 20 years persists, with forage production down sharply and soil moisture conditions still too dry for quick recovery. Invasive Species Alert: Northern Virginia residents seeing tiny red, spotted bugs are being warned they may be spotted lanternfly nymphs; experts urge people to identify and kill them before they mature into adults. Water & Outdoor Safety: With Independence Day weekend boating hazards tied to low water, officials are urging sober boating and life jackets, while flood watch language continues to pop up around the region as storms roll through. Disaster Response (Global, Virginia-linked): Virginia Task Force 1 is conducting rescue missions in Venezuela after deadly earthquakes, including a reported rescue of a mother and baby from rubble. Conservation Through Planting: Equity Bank Uganda and My Tree Initiative held a large tree-planting event in Mpigi, highlighting climate resilience and biodiversity benefits.

Federal disaster relief for Virginia farmers: USDA approved a Secretarial Disaster Declaration for 43 primary and 61 contiguous counties after late-spring frost and freeze damage, with growers in places like Warren, Shenandoah, Rappahannock, Frederick and Clarke facing losses that could delay harvest until 2027. Extreme weather watch: A Flood Watch is in effect for Arlington and much of the D.C. area through 10 p.m. Saturday, with heavy rain and flash flooding possible as a stalled front boosts humidity. Offshore minerals push: BOEM is seeking public input on potential marine mineral leasing off Virginia’s coast, stressing it’s an early information-gathering step and not a lease decision, while weighing environmental factors and conflicts with fishing and shipping. Heat and water safety: Virginia DWR is urging sober boating and life jackets for the Independence Day weekend as officials report recent boating deaths and injuries. Data center policy fight: A new Virginia budget conference report adds a consumption tax on data centers starting July 1, amid ongoing disputes over energy and incentives. Venezuela earthquake response: Virginia Task Force 1 is conducting around-the-clock search-and-rescue in Venezuela after twin quakes, working with local responders and using K9 teams and heavy equipment.

Offshore Mining Watch: The Trump administration is seeking input on a potential first federal lease for seabed mineral mining off Virginia’s Eastern Shore, raising alarms from environmental groups about unproven risks to marine life and coastal communities. Drought & Water Stress: Virginia remains in severe drought in many areas, with officials urging conservation as streamflows and groundwater stay below normal. Data Centers vs. the Environment: Virginia’s new budget adds a tax on data center electricity use while local fights continue over impacts on water and health; in Calvert County, commissioners again rejected a pause on data center approvals. Agriculture Hit by Frost: USDA issued a disaster declaration covering 43 Virginia counties plus 61 contiguous counties after late-spring frost and freeze damage. Wildlife in the City: A black bear was captured and moved after appearing in Richmond’s Oregon Hill, fueling questions about how close wildlife is getting to people. Coastal Wildlife Tourism: Chincoteague ranked among the top U.S. spots for dolphin sightings, highlighting the Eastern Shore’s protected waters and summer pod activity.

Virginia Drought & Water Watch: Henrico and Richmond-area leaders are preparing voluntary water conservation in the James River region as dry conditions continue, with an advisory expected July 1 if flows don’t rebound. Data Centers & Power Costs: Virginia lawmakers approved a new tax on electricity consumed by certain data centers, and separate reporting warns that AI-driven power demand can strain grids and raise bills—plus new research flags rising fire risks tied to backup power. Public Safety—Pools: A new Virginia law taking effect July 1 will tighten safety requirements for public aquatic facilities after 97 child drownings since 2021, with last year the deadliest. Harmful Algae: Virginia Lake is under a harmful algal bloom watch, and officials urge caution around visible algae at Paradise Park Pond too. Wildlife Spotlight: Virginia’s wood duck and prothonotary warbler get the “meet” treatment, highlighting habitat needs for two colorful species. Road Work Impacts: Expect overnight lane and ramp closures on I-81 and I-95 in coming days as paving and widening projects continue.

Offshore Energy & Minerals: BOEM is asking for public and industry input on potential offshore mineral leasing areas off Virginia’s coast, saying it’s an early step and not a lease decision. Climate Costs & RGGI: Virginia lawmakers’ two-year budget includes a proposal to return 45% of RGGI carbon-market funds to ratepayers, small businesses and churches, while utilities would buy carbon credits—an issue tied to Dominion’s planned RGGI rider costs. Solar Enforcement: Virginia DEQ hit a Halifax County solar project developer with a $106,288 civil penalty over erosion and sediment-control failures at the Alton Post Office Solar facility. Wildlife Watch: Chesapeake Bay osprey numbers are crashing again, with the Virginia Osprey Foundation reporting a sharp drop in chicks reaching adulthood after a prior rebound. Offshore Wind Push: A new op-ed argues offshore wind matters statewide for energy independence and price stability, pointing to the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind supply-chain footprint. Heat & Storms: Forecasters warn of humid, stormy weather ahead, with extremely hot conditions building toward July 4 weekend.

Data Centers & Health: New Virginia reporting ties AI data centers to air pollution concerns that can worsen asthma, pointing to Virginia Beach among the top U.S. cities for asthma-related ER visits when pollution spikes. Invasive Species Control: Tri-County Lakes released 200 sterile grass carp into Smith Mountain Lake to target hydrilla, a fast-spreading aquatic weed that has surged again since 2025. Offshore Minerals: BOEM opened a public comment process on possible mineral leasing off Virginia’s Eastern Shore, including heavy mineral sands and phosphorites, while stressing no lease sale is decided yet. Water Transparency for Data Centers: New state rules starting next January will require water providers to break out monthly sales by category, including data centers with air permits, to improve drought planning. Local Land-Use Fight: Strasburg answered residents’ questions about Project Tallmadge, saying the data center is by-right under older zoning and that a new permit rule won’t apply retroactively. Drought Watch: A Triangle drought interview with a state climatologist warns residents to prepare for ongoing dry conditions. Wildlife & Climate: A new study finds warmer, drier air can slow forest growth and reduce future carbon storage—potentially up to 30% in some models. Public Health & Ticks: Gov. Maura Healey backed tick mitigation efforts on Martha’s Vineyard, calling ticks a major public health threat.