AGP Executive Report

Jobs: Nevada’s unemployment rate edged down to 4.7% in September as nonfarm employment added 1,300 jobs. Health care, business services and construction led year-over-year gains, though the labor force also shrank. Fuel and Energy: Production has begun at Nevada’s only crude oil refinery as diesel margins remain high. Separately, federal geothermal lease bids are on track for a record year, signaling strong industry interest. Data Centers: The Bureau of Land Management will reconsider a proposed Boulder City data center on federal land, keeping a major development plan in play. Tourism and Travel: Boyd Gaming reported lower revenue as Las Vegas visitor demand softened, while average airfares in the Las Vegas metro rose 24% year over year in the second quarter.**

Tourism & Hospitality: MGM Resorts will sponsor the Pro Padel League’s Las Vegas tournament Nov. 18–21, while Fontainebleau is planning race-week parties and activations. MGM Grand also plans a Four Sixes Ranch steakhouse for early 2027. Data Centers: Federal officials will reconsider Boulder City’s proposed data center after an appeals board found the original environmental review likely violated the law. Transportation: NDOT will reduce I-580 to one lane at a time south of Reno Oct. 27–30 for winter bridge maintenance. Energy & Mining: A federal geothermal lease sale in Nevada brought in $4.8 million, and Nevada refinery operator Sky Quarry says petroleum production has begun amid strong diesel demand. Fuel Costs: Nevada’s average gas price fell nine cents in a week to $5.33 a gallon, though AAA says October is on track to be the state’s costliest on record.

Clean Fuels: XCF Global estimates its Reno facility could generate $21 million a year in clean-fuel credits if it reaches full capacity, based on current credit prices; the company also named Wray Thorn president and CFO. Refining: Sky Quarry says production has begun at its Eagle Springs refinery near Ely, which makes diesel, other fuels and asphalt after a restart and permit approval. Mining: NevGold reported gold-antimony mineralization extending more than 100 meters at its Limousine Butte project, with additional drill results pending. Energy and Manufacturing: Ormat led a U.S. geothermal auction in Nevada, while Tesla is staffing up its Nevada Semi plant as fleet orders build. Business Conditions: Nevada added 1,300 jobs in September and unemployment fell for a fifth straight month; Tahoe-area business walks are gathering owners’ views on workforce, housing and infrastructure needs.

Transportation: NDOT finished the Pyramid Way reconstruction in Sparks five months early, resurfacing the road and adding sidewalk, crossing and lighting improvements. Small Business: A Paris Baguette franchise in Reno has pushed back its opening while NV Energy completes a power upgrade, delayed as the utility repairs wildfire-damaged infrastructure. Electric Vehicles: Tesla says volume production of its Semi has begun at its Nevada factory, with annual capacity listed at 25,000 trucks; the company did not disclose production or delivery numbers. Housing Construction: Henderson approved nearly 400 affordable apartments in the city’s west side, with construction expected to begin by the holidays and completion planned by 2028. Tourism and Transit: Waymo has started airport rides to and from Harry Reid International, initially for existing customers, with wider access planned. Geothermal Energy: A federal geothermal lease sale in Nevada brought in $4.8 million, adding to the state’s growing clean-energy development activity.

Critical Minerals: Krait Critical Minerals has added a historically producing antimony property in Humboldt County to its U.S. portfolio, targeting minerals important to defense and advanced manufacturing. Nevada’s old tungsten camps are also drawing renewed drilling interest. Clean Energy: Ormat dominated a U.S. geothermal auction in Nevada, as new analysis says geothermal can compete with solar-plus-storage on price. Industrial Growth: Churchill County commissioners approved a service plan for the Churchill-Hazen Industrial Park, advancing local infrastructure for development. Jobs and Technology: Nevada added 25,300 jobs over the year through September, a 1.6% gain, even as a new analysis warns nearly half the state’s workforce could face automation exposure. Manufacturing: Tesla is staffing up its Nevada Semi plant as fleet orders build, pointing to continued expansion in the state’s vehicle-production sector.

Geothermal Investment: Ormat led Nevada’s federal geothermal auction, winning eight parcels across about 20,000 acres for $2.29 million; Invenergy took the most acreage, with 37,000 acres. Industrial Development: Churchill County commissioners conditionally approved a service plan for a proposed 54,518-acre industrial park near Hazen, covering power, water, wastewater and roads. Data Center Plans: A new map shows 35 federal-land applications across six Western states, including a proposed 2,520-acre site near Las Vegas; public-land data centers lack an established permitting process. Mining and Water: White Pine County approved a mining-road agreement and advanced a water plan, while Nevada’s historic tungsten camps are drawing renewed drilling interest. Jobs and Workforce: Nevada added 25,300 jobs over the year through September, a 1.6% gain, even as a separate analysis flagged nearly half of state jobs as potentially exposed to automation. Manufacturing Trade: More than 200 Taiwanese suppliers are set to showcase automotive parts and technology at AAPEX in Las Vegas Nov. 3–5.

Industrial Growth: PIRTEK USA opened a Las Vegas North location as it added five sites and awarded 12 territories nationwide in the third quarter. Business Aviation: NetJets and Signature Aviation opened a new private-aviation facility at Harry Reid International Airport, citing Las Vegas demand that has grown nearly 45% since 2022. Economic Outlook: Nevada’s economic panel warned that the Iran war and rising costs could weaken state revenue. Water Infrastructure: Las Vegas plans a $580 million bond sale for its water system. Clean Energy: A Nevada geothermal auction overlaps planned solar projects, while a new analysis says geothermal can beat solar-plus-storage on cost in the state.

Energy: Nevada utility filings show three geothermal proposals priced at $105–$107 per megawatt-hour, below the roughly $114 average for solar paired mostly with four-hour batteries. Meanwhile, a federal geothermal lease auction overlaps land sought for NextEra’s planned 1,000-megawatt Sawtooth solar project in Nye County; the Bureau of Land Management rejected the developer’s request to defer or reconfigure parcels. Growth and Water: North Las Vegas is seeing more than $1 billion in annual private investment, with new homes, hotels and industrial projects in the pipeline. A Southern Highlands Lennar development used 29.5 million gallons of water over three years, renewing questions about construction’s demands on the valley’s limited supply. Manufacturing and Mining: Tesla is adding staff at its Nevada Semi plant as fleet orders build, while World Copper signed a letter of intent to acquire the Hot Tip property in Nye County. Nevada added 1,300 jobs in September, and unemployment fell for a fifth straight month. Aviation: A Falcon 50 overran a runway at Harry Reid International Airport after an aborted takeoff, briefly disrupting flights. No injuries were reported, and investigations are underway.

Energy: A federal geothermal lease sale in Nevada this week includes parcels overlapping planned solar projects, including part of NextEra’s proposed 1,000-megawatt Sawtooth center in Nye County. Mining: Nevada gold producer Fortitude Gold reported preliminary third-quarter output of 2,139 ounces from its local mines and projects. Data Centers: Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto and four colleagues are asking Meta to justify billions in research tax credits as it expands AI data centers, arguing the credits should support research, not infrastructure buildout. Manufacturing: Haas Automation plans to hire more than 1,000 workers at its new Henderson factory, a major addition to the region’s industrial workforce. Jobs: Nevada added 1,300 jobs in September, while the state’s unemployment rate fell for a fifth straight month. Business Aviation: Universal Aviation introduced its new Affinity Aviation brand as industry leaders gathered in Las Vegas for NBAA-BACE, pledging continued investment in its global ground-support network.

Factory Investment: Haas Automation is looking to hire more than 1,000 workers at its new Henderson factory, a major manufacturing expansion for Southern Nevada. Airport Operations: A private jet’s aborted takeoff and runway excursion at Harry Reid International Airport closed two runways and delayed flights; no injuries were reported. Mining: SSR Mining is expanding its Nevada footprint through the Roxmore purchase. Convention Business: IMEX America reported a record 2026 in Las Vegas, underscoring the city’s draw for large-scale business events. Workforce Pressures: Nevada’s growing 24-hour economy is adding strain for working parents who need overnight childcare.

Las Vegas Entertainment: Carrot Top thanked fans ahead of his return to the Luxor stage after a September hospitalization, spotlighting the city’s live-show business. Gaming Regulation: Nevada senators are urging a crackdown on wildfire betting, while Kalshi’s sports contracts face a state licensing challenge; Google also bars prediction-market ads in Nevada. Workforce: As Nevada’s 24-hour economy grows, working parents are struggling to find overnight childcare. Manufacturing: Tesla is adding staff at its Nevada Semi plant as fleet orders build. Mining: SSR Mining’s purchase of the neighboring Converse project is expected to add 150,000 ounces to annual output. Events and Infrastructure: Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc. selected EquipmentShare to support race infrastructure, while IMEX America reported a record year in Las Vegas.

Convention Business: IMEX America set a new record in Las Vegas, even as exhibitors flagged rising costs and a slower recovery. Manufacturing: Tesla is adding staff at its Nevada Semi plant as fleet orders build, a potential boost for the state’s manufacturing base. Mining: SSR Mining agreed to acquire Roxmore Resources and its Nevada Converse gold project, expanding the company’s local production plans. Data Centers: Proposed facilities on federal land are stirring concerns in Nevada, putting land use and the state’s role in the AI buildout into focus. Gaming: Nevada regulators are advancing a technical standards overhaul, with implementation targeted for October 2027.

Manufacturing: Tesla is adding staff at its Nevada Semi plant as fleet orders build, a boost for the state’s electric-vehicle supply chain. Tourism and Events: IMEX America reported a record year in Las Vegas, even as rising costs temper the recovery; the Las Vegas Grand Prix also selected EquipmentShare to support race-event infrastructure. Jobs: Nevada added 1,300 jobs in September, and its unemployment rate fell for a fifth straight month. Mining: SSR Mining agreed to acquire Roxmore Resources and its Nevada Converse gold project, while tungsten developers advanced financing and drilling plans. Development: A planned Carson City Hall project is no longer moving forward, with higher interest rates cited as a factor.

Electric Vehicles: Tesla is adding staff at its Nevada Semi plant as fleet orders build, a boost for the state’s manufacturing sector. Event Infrastructure: Las Vegas Grand Prix Inc. selected EquipmentShare to support race operations, highlighting the scale of logistics behind the event. Tourism and Construction: A $19 million Fairfield Inn with 117 rooms is set to open Oct. 30 in North Las Vegas, near Nellis Air Force Base and the Speedway. Jobs: Nevada added 1,300 jobs in September, while unemployment fell for a fifth straight month. Mining: SSR Mining’s $712 million deal for Roxmore Resources expands its Nevada footprint with the Converse gold project.

Jobs: Nevada added 1,300 jobs in September, signaling modest growth in the state’s labor market. Energy: Crescent Dunes, the troubled Nye County solar plant built for more than $1 billion, sold for $7 million after two bankruptcies. Data Centers: Proposed projects are drawing scrutiny over water use, public spending and the use of federal land as they become an issue in Nevada’s governor’s race. Construction: A planned downtown Las Vegas project aims to bring 1,000 homes to market, with prices starting in the $300,000s. Gaming: State regulators are advancing updated technical standards, with implementation targeted for October 2027. Mining: SSR Mining agreed to acquire Roxmore Resources, including its Converse gold project in Nevada.

Hospitality: Luke Combs’ Category 10 has opened on the Las Vegas Strip, bringing a 34,000-square-foot venue with seven bars, two stages and a rooftop to Flamingo. Housing & Development: Ground has broken on The Foundry, a planned downtown Las Vegas community of more than 1,000 homes, with prices expected to start around $300,000. Mining: SSR Mining is expanding its Nevada footprint with the Roxmore purchase, while Lahontan Gold’s Santa Fe mine study projects an 11-year mine life and an $820 million post-tax value. Construction Technology: Wheeler Machinery plans to acquire SITECH Intermountain, adding a dedicated construction technology team. Data Centers: Nevada’s data center push is drawing union support, but projects still face the challenge of winning broader public acceptance.