AGP Executive Report

Tech Workforce: Sandia National Laboratories is urging New Mexico colleges to expand hands-on training as its electronic fabrication apprenticeship gives students 8,000 hours of paid preparation for high-tech manufacturing jobs. Water and Energy: A report from southern New Mexico describes suspected oilfield wastewater dumping near the Black River, adding to concerns about toxic produced water; meanwhile, the Rio Grande’s flows remain far below historic levels. Data Centers: Plans for a gas-powered data center near Hachita are still in an early feasibility stage, but residents are pressing Grant County for transparency as concerns grow over data centers’ demands on water and power. Drone Research: Sandia staff used Balloon Fiesta’s 500-drone show to study how swarms behave, as the technology spreads into everyday airspace. Quantum Computing: New Mexico and Fujitsu are moving ahead with a quantum computing research center in the state, while a state cybersecurity leader is calling for safeguards against future quantum threats. Broadband: The state says it is on track to bring high-speed internet access to 94% of New Mexicans by year’s end.

Drone Research: Sandia engineers used Albuquerque’s Balloon Fiesta drone show to study how large groups of aircraft behave, as 500 drones filled the sky. Data Center Debate: A developer behind a proposed data center near Hachita says the project remains in an early feasibility phase, while Grant County residents are pressing for transparency. Quantum Computing: New Mexico is partnering with Fujitsu on a quantum computing research center, a major push to build the state’s role in the field. Water and Energy: State officials warn Rio Grande flows remain critically low, even after recent rain. Separately, the EPA plans to loosen methane rules for oil and gas producers, announcing the move in Santa Fe. Defense Technology: New Mexico-based X-Bow won a Navy contract worth about $70 million to develop a solid rocket motor booster.

Quantum Computing: Fujitsu and New Mexico signed an agreement to establish a quantum research center, with plans to develop specialized talent and explore joint work with state universities and research institutions. The state’s cybersecurity leader says quantum-safe protections should advance alongside the field. Digital Access: New Mexico says broadband expansion is on track to reach 94% of residents by year-end, narrowing connectivity gaps across the state. Data-Center Buildout: Oracle’s proposed $165 billion Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County could require up to 2.45 gigawatts of power. Pipeline delays may lead to costly trucked natural gas for early operations, raising questions about energy and infrastructure. Cybersecurity: A network outage disrupted Bernalillo town systems and email; officials said police and fire services remained operational as engineers investigated. Privacy Rules: The ACLU of New Mexico urged lawmakers to limit companies’ collection of location, biometric and health data, which state law largely leaves unprotected.

Quantum Computing: Fujitsu signed an agreement with New Mexico to establish a quantum research center and develop specialized talent, with joint projects involving local universities under consideration. Broadband: Nearly 91% of the state now has high-speed internet, with more than 120,000 homes and businesses connected since 2022; officials expect coverage to reach 94% by year’s end. AI Infrastructure: Oracle is considering trucking natural gas to its proposed $165 billion Project Jupiter campus in Doña Ana County while pipeline infrastructure lags. The campus could eventually require up to 2.45 gigawatts, underscoring the energy demands of New Mexico’s data-center boom. Early Americans: A new review revisits evidence from White Sands, where human footprints dating back roughly 21,000 to 23,000 years complicate the story of when and how people first reached the Americas.

Quantum Research: New Mexico and Fujitsu will establish a quantum computing center focused on hardware, software, algorithms and theory, with research partnerships and workforce training. The state’s cybersecurity leader is also urging preparation for quantum-era threats. AI Infrastructure: Oracle’s $165 billion Project Jupiter campus faces a delay after state land officials rejected a proposed gas pipeline route. Oracle has used trucked-in gas at other data centers while awaiting pipeline connections. Defense Technology: X-Bow won a roughly $70 million Navy contract to develop a solid rocket motor booster. Energy Rules: At an industry meeting in Santa Fe, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency plans to propose scrapping rules requiring oil and gas operators to investigate reports of major methane leaks. Broadband: New Mexico says it expects 94% of residents to have broadband access by year-end.

Quantum Push: New Mexico has signed a three-year agreement with Fujitsu to establish a quantum computing research center focused on hardware, software, algorithms and workforce training. The announcement came as state cybersecurity officials urged agencies to upgrade encryption before quantum computers can undermine current protections. Broadband Expansion: Nearly 91% of the state now has high-speed internet access, with officials projecting 94% coverage by year’s end. Since 2022, more than 120,000 additional homes and businesses have been connected, backed by $675 million in federal funding and $225 million in state funds. Defense Manufacturing: New Mexico facilities will contribute to X-Bow Systems’ Navy contract, worth up to $69.7 million, to develop and qualify a solid rocket motor booster for a future weapons program.

Pipeline Safety: Two New Mexico gas pipeline explosions are under investigation. One killed two people in Lea County; the other caused power outages in San Juan County. Surveillance Technology: Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story told lawmakers the city’s 43 Flock license-plate cameras have helped solve cases, while legislators raised concerns about how the tools are used under the state’s new restrictions. Medical Technology: Albuquerque-based Eden Radioisotopes is seeking state support for a Eunice facility that could invest up to $1.4 billion to produce medical isotopes for cancer treatment; its first phase is expected to be complete by 2030. Space Science: Astrophysicist John Carlstrom will give a public lecture on the Big Bang at New Mexico Tech in Socorro on Nov. 20, part of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Jansky Lectureship. AI Policy: New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and Rep. Sarita Serrato are planning legislation to regulate frontier AI in the 2027 session.

Medical Isotopes: Eden Radioisotopes’ planned Eunice facility could bring up to $1.4 billion in investment and at least 85 jobs to southeastern New Mexico. The state is considering training funds and tax incentives; the first phase is expected to be complete by 2030. Cosmic Origins: Astrophysicist John Carlstrom, honored for his work on the Big Bang’s afterglow, will give the 2026 Jansky Lecture at New Mexico Tech on Nov. 20. Food Safety: A USDA-state agreement will expand meat and poultry inspection in New Mexico, with NMSU’s Food Safety Laboratory providing testing closer to local producers. AI Policy: New Mexico’s attorney general and lawmakers are preparing a 2027 push for AI guardrails, including a proposal targeting frontier AI models.

Uranium Policy: Cibola County commissioners backed in-situ uranium recovery, while New Mexico’s state-land ban drew opposition from the Clean Energy Association. The dispute puts economic development and newer extraction methods against the state’s limits on uranium activity. Space Technology: Sandia National Laboratories is using its automated SOHBRIT observatory to track satellites, adding to New Mexico’s role in space monitoring. UNM Research: University of New Mexico researchers reported findings pointing to early food production in the Maya region. Geothermal Power: Utah’s Cape Station has begun commercial operations as the first greenfield enhanced-geothermal system to deliver power, a milestone for a technology with potential across the West. AI and Data Centers: New Mexico lawmakers and the attorney general are preparing AI guardrails for the 2027 session, as delays at the proposed Project Jupiter data center underscore mounting power and permitting constraints on the industry.

Biosafety & Public Health: U.S. officials are watching a Siberia plague-lab death after Russia reported a 28-year-old technician died of “pneumonia of unknown origin,” while WHO says the risk of a wider outbreak is low; quarantines and conflicting claims about a possible lab accident have raised transparency concerns. Defense Tech: The Pentagon named four directed-energy systems for a homeland counter-drone pilot—high-energy lasers and high-powered microwaves—aimed at real-world testing at U.S. bases. Space & Research: Sandia’s SOHBRIT tracks satellites to reduce collision risk as constellations grow, highlighting how space operations are becoming a bigger science-and-systems challenge. Local Governance & Housing: Albuquerque’s housing shortage push spotlights renovating older motels into homes, using Route 66-era infrastructure as new housing stock. STEM Workforce: NMSU’s CAMP program marks 25 years helping migrant farmworkers’ kids reach college, with New Mexico stepping in to sustain funding after federal cuts. Tech Policy & Data Centers: A conservative group is touring to demand local control and transparency for data centers, reflecting growing community pushback over power and land impacts. Education & Equity: UNM research finds gender can shape how people judge workplace gossip and leadership potential, adding nuance to how bias forms at work.

Vaccine Court Fight: New York joined a growing coalition of states suing HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to restore childhood vaccine recommendations, arguing the January rollback ignored scientific review and required public input. Public Health Watch: In Russia’s Siberia, a lab technician’s suspected pneumonic plague death triggered quarantines; WHO says the epidemic risk is low, while Russia denies claims of special anti-plague measures and the cause remains disputed. Defense Tech: The Pentagon picked four directed-energy counter-drone systems—laser and microwave—for operational testing at U.S. bases, aiming to strengthen layered homeland air defense. Missile Production: Boeing will triple PAC-3 MSE seeker output under a $14.7B contract, boosting interceptor capacity toward 2,000 per year. AI + Power in NM: New Mexico’s Project Jupiter data-center financing is drawing fresh scrutiny as investors price in risk and local groups push for more transparency and safeguards. Local Health & Care: Porch Light Health won $6.6M to expand rural addiction treatment and coordinated care across Colorado, a model relevant to regional access challenges. Space Comms: NASA’s Artemis II optical links reportedly hit high data rates with a New Mexico optical ground station supporting laser communications.

Energy Audits for Industry: The U.S. Department of Energy highlighted Arizona State University’s Industrial Training and Assessment Center, where student teams have completed 600+ free energy audits and helped drive more than $1 billion in manufacturer savings. Transit Safety in NM: Tucson officials studied Albuquerque’s bus ambassador program as they launch a similar effort to make city buses safer and more reliable. Fuel Economy Fight: New Mexico joined a coalition suing the Trump administration over weakened corporate average fuel economy standards, arguing the rollback will raise gas demand and costs. AI Data Center Pressure in Southern NM: Sierra County residents held a technical meeting on AI data centers and discussed a proposed moratorium, while local coverage of Project Jupiter focuses on financing risk and calls for more transparency. Public Health Watch: U.S. officials are monitoring reports of a suspected pneumonic plague death in Russia tied to a plague research institute, with details still unclear. Space & Engineering: NASA is funding a staged return-to-flight plan for Boeing’s Starliner, starting with an uncrewed mission to validate fixes in orbit. NM Military-Tech Link: A partnership between Kirtland Air Force Base and community leaders continues, and NMSU’s makerspace is helping 49th Wing Airmen solve maintenance challenges.

AI Power & Data Centers: Bloom Energy is pitching solid-oxide fuel cells as a way to cut a 1-gigawatt AI data center’s non-chip build costs by $3.6B (27%), but the numbers come from the company’s own modeling and independent verification is still missing. Local Tech/Permitting: Oracle issued a force majeure notice tied to its New Mexico “Project Jupiter” AI campus, framing it as protection against schedule/regulatory delays rather than a tenant exit—while analysts warn permits, fuel supply, and local approvals can still bottleneck big AI builds. Space Tourism (NM): Trip.com listed a $973,000-to-$P47.6M suborbital package with Virgin Galactic that includes three days of preflight training at Spaceport America near Las Cruces. Space-Weather Research: NMSU astronomy/space-weather lead Julie Shetye is highlighted for using solar observations plus data science and AI to improve satellite, aviation, and communications risk forecasting. Public Health (Plague): Reports say nearly 200 people were placed under observation after a suspected pneumonic plague case, with quarantine steps taken at a hospital. Environment & Water: New research finds wildfires are increasingly burning watershed land that supplies large Western populations, raising water-quality and infrastructure concerns. Policy Watch (NM): A Senate “permitting reform” push for faster AI data centers and energy projects is criticized for weakening major wildlife, water, and climate protections. Food Safety: PepsiCo recalled 122,000+ cases of 28-ounce Gatorade in 37 states due to undeclared yellow dyes.

AI & Power for Data Centers: Bloom Energy says its fuel cells could cut a 1-gigawatt AI data center’s non-chip construction costs by $3.6B (27%), while Oracle issued a force majeure notice tied to Project Jupiter in New Mexico—framing it as payment protection amid regulatory delays, not a tenant exit. Space Tourism: Trip.com is selling a Virgin Galactic suborbital package that includes three days of preflight training at Spaceport America near Las Cruces, with a 90-minute flight and weightlessness. New Mexico AI Policy: New Mexico lawmakers and the attorney general are pushing a regulation push to rein in “rogue” AI models during the 60-day session. Rural Health Funding: Gila Regional Medical Center is named a hub in a new Healthy Horizons rural healthcare initiative, with up to $15.2M for southern NM counties. Wildfire Recovery & Forestry: New Mexico’s GO Bond 3 includes $17.7M for a reforestation center in Mora County aimed at research-based tree nursery work after wildfire impacts. Healthcare Access: A report highlights a growing allergy care diagnostic gap, with rural and Medicaid patients facing longer waits and more misdiagnoses. Identity Fraud Warning: An opinion piece warns synthetic identities and deepfakes are becoming a mainstream bank-security threat.

Space Tourism in NM: Trip.com is selling a 5.1 million yuan (about $973,000) six-day suborbital package with Virgin Galactic, including three days of preflight training at Spaceport America near Las Cruces and a 90-minute flight with weightlessness. AI & Work in the Spotlight: California lawmakers signed new workplace AI rules, including limits on “robo boss” automated discipline and bans on certain AI surveillance, while a Stanford/King’s study finds AI-adopting firms shift work toward senior staff rather than cutting headcount. NM Water & Trust: Sunland Park residents are disputing steep arsenic-related water bills and provider missteps even as the system meets EPA limits after increased state oversight. Rural Health Funding: Gila Regional Medical Center was named a hub for a Healthy Horizons rural healthcare initiative that could bring up to $15.2M across seven southern NM counties. STEM in Classrooms: Deming High teachers are taking their practical classroom AI strategies to a national conference. Climate Resilience: A New Mexico reforestation center proposal would fund wildfire- and flood-impacted areas with research-based tree nursery work. Tech Infrastructure Watch: A New Mexico AG push targets “rogue” AI models and calls for AI guardrails.

Rural Healthcare Funding: Gila Regional Medical Center was named the hub for New Mexico’s Healthy Horizons rural healthcare push, with up to $15.2M earmarked for specialty, maternal, behavioral health, and chronic care across seven southern counties. Space & Tech Tourism: Trip.com listed a $973,000 suborbital tour package tied to Virgin Galactic, including preflight training at Spaceport America near Las Cruces. AI Policy in New Mexico: New Mexico lawmakers and the AG plan a 60-day push to rein in “rogue” AI models and set guardrails. Permitting & Energy: A bipartisan Senate bill backed by Sen. Martin Heinrich would fine administrations that block permits for whole categories of energy projects like solar and wind. Astronomy Breakthrough: A neutron star collision may have produced a nine-minute X-ray glow from a newborn magnetar, hinting some events are longer-lasting than expected. Water Safety Watch: Sunland Park residents face rising arsenic-related water costs even after EPA compliance, as trust issues linger. Education & STEM Outreach: Balloons Aloft brought nearly 200 pilots and hot-air balloon science to Albuquerque and Rio Rancho elementary schools. Cyber/Privacy & Health: New Mexico’s coalition sued over fuel-economy rollbacks, while Meta faces major privacy fallout nationwide.