AGP Executive Report

Advanced Manufacturing: Rochester-based Albany Engineered Composites is expanding its hypersonics, rocket-motor and space manufacturing work, backed by more than $36 million in company investment and a new $21.2 million federal contract for advanced heat-shield materials. Data Center Debate: New Hampshire’s gubernatorial candidates both support a pause on large data centers, citing concerns including energy costs; Gov. Kelly Ayotte says she would pursue a moratorium through the next state budget or legislation. Cybersecurity: A reported incident has affected nearly 50,000 Granite Staters, underscoring the risks facing residents’ personal data.

Critical Minerals: New Hampshire-based Phoenix Tailings chose Rochester, N.Y., for a planned $1.2 billion rare-earth processing plant, part of a wider network the company says could support more than 500 jobs across New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Digital Banking: A proposed Bedford community bank won conditional federal and state approvals, advancing its plan for a technology-led bank serving local businesses. Data Center Debate: New Hampshire’s gubernatorial candidates both back a pause on large data centers, citing concerns including energy costs—an increasingly important question as the region prepares for AI-driven computing demand. Cybersecurity: A reported incident affected nearly 50,000 Granite Staters, underscoring the scale of risks to residents’ personal information. Satellite Science: NASA’s PACE satellite is tracking autumn leaf pigments from space, offering scientists a way to monitor when forests change color.

Student Robotics: Hudson and Litchfield’s Future Techies tested their robot and engineering project at a practice tournament in Nashua, gaining experience ahead of New Hampshire’s FIRST LEGO League qualifiers in November. Cybersecurity: A reported incident affected nearly 50,000 Granite Staters; the available report did not specify its cause or scope. Wildlife Science: A bald eagle found in Brookline died after likely eating a poisoned rodent. NH Audubon warns that rodenticide can pass through prey to eagles, hawks, owls and other predators; a recent study found exposure in 34 of 35 tested animals.

Wildlife Health: A bald eagle found in Brookline died after eating a poisoned rodent, highlighting the risk of secondary poisoning to New Hampshire predators. NH Audubon says a recent study found rodenticide exposure in 34 of 35 tested animals. Cybersecurity: DriveWealth says an intruder accessed its network in September and is contacting nearly 50,000 Granite Staters; Social Security numbers were affected for a limited number of people. Loon Research: A study drawing on decades of lake surveys found declining chick production across several regions, including New Hampshire, raising concern for loon populations. Forest Science: The future of Bartlett Experimental Forest remains uncertain as advocates push back against a proposed federal closure. The 90-year-old White Mountain research site is a living laboratory for forest and land-management studies.

Wildlife Health: A bald eagle found in Brookline died after eating a rodent likely poisoned with rodenticide. NH Audubon warns that poison can pass up the food chain to eagles, hawks and other predators. Forest Research: The future of Bartlett Experimental Forest remains uncertain as advocates push back against possible federal closure. UNH researchers say losing the 90-year-old “living laboratory” would limit research that helps guide forestry and land management. Cybersecurity: DriveWealth is notifying nearly 50,000 Granite Staters after a September network intrusion; the company says Social Security numbers were affected for a limited number of people. Advanced Manufacturing: Albany Engineered Composites has invested more than $36 million in a 70,000-square-foot Rochester facility for materials used in hypersonic vehicles, rocket motors and space systems, backed by a $21.2 million federal contract. Loon Study: Research tracking more than 3,400 lakes found fewer loon chicks being raised in several regions, with New Hampshire among the areas facing a potential decline.

Cybersecurity: DriveWealth says a breach exposed its network in September, prompting it to contact nearly 50,000 Granite Staters. Social Security numbers were affected for a limited number of people; those impacted are being offered credit monitoring. Advanced Manufacturing: Albany Engineered Composites has invested more than $36 million in a 70,000-square-foot Rochester facility for materials used in hypersonic vehicles, rocket motors and space systems. A separate $21.2 million federal contract will support development of heat-resistant composites. Forest Research: Bartlett Experimental Forest’s future remains uncertain, but the 90-year-old White Mountain research site is vital to studies informing forestry and land management. Two retired Forest Service scientists leading efforts to save it received the Forest Society’s 2026 President’s Award. STEM Workforce: New Hampshire won a $6.6 million federal grant to connect laid-off workers with training and jobs in advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, clean energy, and skilled trades. Wildlife Science: A study tracking loon productivity on 3,421 lakes found long-term declines across parts of Canada and the U.S.; researchers warn the trends could signal future population declines in New Hampshire.

Cybersecurity: DriveWealth says an intruder accessed its network in September, affecting nearly 50,000 Granite Staters; Social Security numbers were exposed for a limited number of people. Advanced Manufacturing: Albany Engineered Composites is investing more than $36 million in a 70,000-square-foot Rochester facility for high-temperature components used in hypersonic vehicles, rocket motors and space systems. A $21.2 million federal contract will support the work. STEM Workforce: New Hampshire won a $6.6 million federal grant to retrain workers for jobs in advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, clean energy and skilled trades. Research & Environment: A study tracking loon productivity on more than 3,400 lakes found long-term declines in New Hampshire and several other regions. Meanwhile, 41 years of satellite data show alpine areas, including the White Mountains, are greening as the climate changes. Bartlett Experimental Forest’s future remains uncertain, raising concerns for UNH researchers and the state’s forestry sector.

STEM Workforce: New Hampshire secured nearly $6.6 million in federal funding to retrain workers for high-demand fields, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, clean energy, and skilled trades. Privacy Technology: Sen. Maggie Hassan is pressing license-plate camera company Flock to explain whether its system complies with New Hampshire’s strict limits on storing images, raising questions about surveillance and residents’ privacy. Data Center Debate: New Hampshire candidates are weighing a freeze on new data-center permits as communities grapple with the facilities’ energy demands and the backlash around AI. Climate and Nature: A later-than-usual foliage peak has scientists pointing to warming temperatures as a possible factor, while new research warns that common loon populations are declining across North America. Rural Health: Federal officials highlighted New Hampshire as a leader as $11 million was announced for mobile health programs serving rural communities.

Climate & Ecology: New Hampshire’s fall colors are arriving later than they did nearly two decades ago, and rising temperatures may be shifting the foliage season. AI Infrastructure: New England still lacks the giant data centers driving debate elsewhere, but New Hampshire candidates agree on freezing new data-center permits while disagreeing on timing. Clean Energy: A New Hampshire town is turning a capped landfill into a solar project expected to save taxpayers $4 million. Public-Sector Innovation: Claremont’s DPW earned national recognition for a custom tool designed to improve worker safety; meanwhile, Unitil and Rhizome are prioritizing resilience investments in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

AI Infrastructure: New England is preparing for large AI data centers, though none of the region’s super-sized facilities have arrived yet. Their heavy power and resource needs are fueling debate, and New Hampshire candidates have called for a pause on new data-center permits. Digital Services: New Hampshire is upgrading its job-matching software to help administer upcoming Medicaid work requirements, including tracking participants’ hours and reporting them to the state. Clean Energy: A New Hampshire town has converted a capped landfill into a solar project expected to save taxpayers $4 million. Nuclear Power: Seabrook is part of a regional discussion about meeting rising electricity demand, as developers explore small modular reactors, microreactors and fusion alongside conventional nuclear plants.

Grid Resilience: Unitil will use an AI-powered planning platform to guide electricity-grid investments across New Hampshire and Massachusetts, weighing risks from wildfires and extreme winter weather. New Hampshire has recorded more than 504 wildfires since 2021. Nuclear Energy: A regional conference highlighted renewed interest in nuclear power as electricity demand rises. Seabrook and Connecticut’s Millstone plant together supply about a quarter of New England’s electricity. Solar Power: A New Hampshire town is converting a capped landfill into a solar project expected to save taxpayers $4 million.

Grid Resilience: Unitil will use AI-powered planning tools to target resilience investments across its New Hampshire and Massachusetts service areas, modeling risks from extreme winter weather and wildfire. Defense Manufacturing: BAE Systems, which makes APKWS guidance kits in Hudson, plans to expand production under a federal agreement, with capacity reaching up to 35,000 kits a year. Rural Health Technology: An $11 million federal grant will expand mobile care in New Hampshire, including telehealth, equipment, and training to bring more services to rural communities. Clean Energy: A New Hampshire town has turned a capped landfill into a solar project expected to save taxpayers $4 million. Research and Climate: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says there are hopeful signs the federal government may reverse plans to close the Bartlett Experimental Forest; a new program is also set to strengthen snow monitoring in New Hampshire and northern New England.

Rural Health Technology: New Hampshire will receive $11 million to expand mobile healthcare in rural communities, supporting telehealth, home-based care, and training as local EMS services face staffing shortages. Clean Energy: A solar project at a capped New Hampshire landfill is expected to save taxpayers $4 million. Research and Conservation: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says there are hopeful signs the federal government may reverse plans to close Bartlett Experimental Forest, a key site for forest research. Snow Science: A new program will strengthen snow monitoring across New Hampshire and northern New England. AI Infrastructure: New Hampshire candidates agree the state should pause new data center permits, though they differ on how quickly to act. Public Works: Claremont’s DPW earned a national award for a custom tool designed to improve worker safety.

Data-Center Debate: A Nottingham developer withdrew an early proposal to convert a vacant warehouse into a data center after strong public opposition, highlighting local concerns about the facilities. Forest Research: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen says federal officials are moving ahead with repairs at Bartlett Experimental Forest and reaffirming the value of its research; Hubbard Brook was also spared closure. Clean Energy: Derry’s 2.25-megawatt solar array on a capped landfill is now operating, with projected savings of about $4 million for taxpayers over 25 years. Rural Health Technology: A new $11 million initiative will provide rural EMS providers with equipment, training and shared-resource support, and launch five mobile health programs, including in Concord and the North Country. Snow Science: A new program aims to strengthen snow monitoring in New Hampshire and across northern New England.

Forest Research: New signs of support may keep Bartlett Experimental Forest open, as federal officials plan building repairs and discuss the value of its research. The site studies forest growth and informs logging practices. Solar Power: A new 2.25-megawatt solar array on Derry’s capped landfill is generating electricity. The town expects it to cover municipal and school power needs and save taxpayers about $4 million over 25 years. Rural Health Technology: An $11 million federal allocation will help New Hampshire rural EMS providers buy equipment, train workers and expand mobile health programs, including five new services. Data Centers: New Hampshire’s gubernatorial candidates are calling for a pause on data center permits, citing potential effects on electricity costs, water and the environment as communities weigh AI’s infrastructure demands. Snow Monitoring: A new program will bolster snow monitoring in New Hampshire and northern New England.

Medical Technology: FDA clearance expands Sequel Med Tech’s twiist automated insulin-delivery system to adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, opening a new market for the New Hampshire company. Data Centers and AI: New Hampshire’s gubernatorial candidates both support freezing new data-center permits, though they differ on timing. The growing backlash reflects worries about electricity costs and environmental impacts, as well as broader anxiety about the AI industry behind the facilities. Local Engineering: Claremont’s Public Works Department won a national award for a custom truck attachment that makes it safer to load and operate heavy equipment used to thaw frozen culverts. AI and Elections: The FCC is considering loosening rules for political robocalls, potentially including AI-generated voices. The proposal renews concerns in New Hampshire, where a fake Biden-voice robocall targeted voters in 2024.