Comstock Metals Expands Network - Launches End-of-Life Solar Facility in California
Rhea-AI Summary
Comstock (NYSE: LODE) opened a California satellite storage and prepping facility in the Central Valley to serve the state's solar market and western U.S. customers.
The site centralizes collection, handling, and logistics for decommissioned PV panels and prepares material for compliant interstate transport to Comstock Metals’ fully permitted Nevada recycling facility for recovery of aluminum, silver, copper, gallium and other metals.
Positive
- California satellite facility secured to serve the largest U.S. solar market
- Central Valley hub centralizes collection, handling, and logistics for PV panels
- Panels prepared locally and shipped to a fully permitted Nevada recycling facility
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, LODE gained 1.07%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
LODE was up 2.19% while peers were mixed: PLG -1.98%, PLL -9.6%, VOXR +1.51%, LGO +9.17%, USGO +0.32%. The move appears stock-specific rather than a broad sector rotation.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 07 | Permit approval | Positive | +3.7% | Final Nevada air quality permit for industry-scale solar panel recycling facility. |
| Dec 09 | Business recognition | Positive | +3.5% | Regional economic authorities recognize Comstock Metals for growth and innovation. |
| Dec 08 | Strategic acquisition | Positive | -6.5% | Bioleum acquires Hexas Biomass for cash, stock, and convertible debt. |
| Dec 03 | IP acquisition | Positive | +1.5% | Bioleum acquires RenFuel IP portfolio with mixed cash, stock, and warrants. |
| Nov 24 | Permit eligibility | Positive | -3.3% | Eligibility notification for Nevada air quality permit for recycling facility. |
Recent operational and regulatory milestones have generally produced positive reactions, with occasional divergences on similar positive news.
Over the past few months, Comstock has advanced its solar panel recycling and clean energy strategy. On Nov 24, 2025 and Jan 7, 2026, it reported key Nevada air quality permitting milestones for a facility designed to process over 3 million panels annually, both tied to commissioning expected in Q1 2026. Recognition on Dec 9, 2025 highlighted growth and workforce strength. Bioleum-related acquisitions on Dec 3 and Dec 8, 2025 expanded biomass and IP assets. Today’s California facility news extends the same recycling network footprint.
Regulatory & Risk Context
Comstock has an active S-3 shelf filed on 2025-11-21 to offer up to $200,000,000 in securities, including up to $100,000,000 via an at-the-market common stock program. Proceeds are earmarked for commercializing Comstock Metals facilities, acquisitions, and growth investments, indicating pre-established capacity to fund network expansion like the California and Nevada operations.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement extends Comstock Metals’ recycling network by adding a California hub to feed its fully permitted Nevada facility, targeting end-of-life solar panels across the western U.S. It follows recent Nevada air quality permits and recognition for growth and innovation. Investors may track execution on volumes processed, logistics efficiency from the Central Valley location, and how this physical footprint leverages the existing $200,000,000 shelf and ATM for future scaling.
Key Terms
photovoltaic (pv) technical
closed-loop recycling technical
interstate transport technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
VIRGINIA CITY, Nev., Jan. 12, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) and Comstock Metals LLC (“Comstock Metals”), a leader in the responsible recycling of end-of-life solar panels with the only certified, North American, zero-landfill solution, announced today that it has secured its California-based facility dedicated to serving its California customer base, the largest single U.S. market. This first satellite storage and prepping facility is strategically located in the heart of the Central Valley of California. The facility represents a critical hub for the responsible collection, preparation and aggregation of decommissioned photovoltaic (PV) panels for ultimate closed-loop recycling in its fully permitted recycling facility in Nevada.
As solar energy adoption continues to grow across the western United States, the need for compliant and environmentally responsible end-of-life solutions is critical. Comstock Metals’ California facility is designed to directly support solar developers, utilities, installers, and asset owners by providing a centralized location for the safe handling, consolidation, and logistics coordination of retired solar panels.
Comstock Metals’ California facility can now optimize network logistics and costs for the western U.S. and:
- Enable direct support for solar asset owners, developers, EPCs, and installers;
- Enhance our ability to rapidly and fully respond to customer needs;
- Facilitate decommissioning efforts by providing a “local” base from which to operate;
- Centralize collection points for end-of-life solar panels in California; and
- Coordinate all handling, storage, and logistics coordination compliantly.
By enabling reliable, efficient, and compliant interstate transport and recycling, Comstock Metals helps reduce landfill disposal, conserve natural resources, and support the long-term sustainability of the solar industry.
“Our goal is to help close the loop on solar energy by ensuring that panels at the end of their useful life are managed responsibly and the critical minerals and materials are repurposed for productive use,” said Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. “This facility allows us to directly support California’s clean energy leadership while ensuring materials are transported efficiently to our specialized recycling operations in Nevada.”
The new facility in California accepts end-of-life and decommissioned solar panels from commercial, utility-scale, and other approved sources. Panels received at the site are prepared and optimized for transportation and shipped in accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations to Comstock Metals’ certified recycling facilities in Nevada, where critical materials such as aluminum, silver, copper, gallium, and other metals can be repurposed.
“Comstock Metals is setting the global standard in solar panel recycling by creating a scalable, reliable, efficient, and optimized network of decommissioning, collecting, aggregating, storing and full-recovery processing (and ultimately refining) nodes designed and built for speed and scale,” said Corrado De Gasperis, Executive Chairman and CEO of Comstock. “Most of the industry is still getting their heads around the magnitude of inevitable end-of-life panels, measured in the tens of millions and then hundreds of millions, and growing, and our demonstrated ability to scale and meet those volumes delivers true sustainability and peace of mind to our customers.”
About Comstock Inc.
Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) innovates and commercializes technologies, systems and supply chains that enable, support and sustain clean energy systems by efficiently, effectively, and expediently extracting and converting under-utilized natural resources into reusable metals, like silver, aluminum, gold, and other critical minerals, primarily from end-of-life photovoltaics. To learn more, please visit www.comstock.inc.
Comstock Social Media Policy
Comstock Inc. has used, and intends to continue using, its investor relations link and main website at www.comstock.inc in addition to its X.com, LinkedIn and YouTube accounts, as means of disclosing material non-public information and for complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD.
Contacts
For investor inquiries:
Judd B. Merrill, Chief Financial Officer
Tel (775) 413-6222
ir@comstockinc.com
For media inquiries:
Zach Spencer, Director of External Relations
Tel (775) 847-7573
media@comstockinc.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any related calls or discussions may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “should,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “potential” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of doing so. 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These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their perception of historical and current trends, current conditions, possible future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees, representations or warranties and are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control and could cause actual results, developments, and business decisions to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Some of those risks and uncertainties include the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC and the following: adverse effects of climate changes or natural disasters; adverse effects of global or regional pandemic disease spread or other crises; global economic and capital market uncertainties; the speculative nature of gold or mineral exploration, and lithium, nickel and cobalt recycling, including risks of diminishing quantities or grades of qualified resources; operational or technical difficulties in connection with exploration, metal recycling, processing or mining activities; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with precious and other metal based activities, including environmentally friendly and economically enhancing clean mining and processing technologies, precious metal exploration, resource development, economic feasibility assessment and cash generating mineral production; costs, hazards and uncertainties associated with metal recycling, processing or mining activities; contests over our title to properties; potential dilution to our stockholders from our stock issuances, recapitalization and balance sheet restructuring activities; potential inability to comply with applicable government regulations or law; adoption of or changes in legislation or regulations adversely affecting our businesses; permitting constraints or delays; challenges to, or potential inability to, achieve the benefits of business opportunities that may be presented to, or pursued by, us, including those involving battery technology and efficacy, quantum computing and generative artificial intelligence supported advanced materials development, development of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and related material production; commercialization of cellulosic technology in bio-fuels and generative artificial intelligence development services; ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions, spin-offs or similar distribution transactions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, asset sales, and investments that we may be party to in the future; changes in the United States or other monetary or fiscal policies or regulations; interruptions in our production capabilities due to capital constraints; equipment failures; fluctuation of prices for gold or certain other commodities (such as silver, zinc, lithium, nickel, cobalt, cyanide, water, diesel, gasoline and alternative fuels and electricity); changes in generally accepted accounting principles; adverse effects of war, mass shooting, terrorism and geopolitical events; potential inability to implement our business strategies; potential inability to grow revenues; potential inability to attract and retain key personnel; interruptions in delivery of critical supplies, equipment and raw materials due to credit or other limitations imposed by vendors; assertion of claims, lawsuits and proceedings against us; potential inability to satisfy debt and lease obligations; potential inability to maintain an effective system of internal controls over financial reporting; potential inability or failure to timely file periodic reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission; potential inability to list our securities on any securities exchange or market or maintain the listing of our securities; and work stoppages or other labor difficulties. Occurrence of such events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows, or the market price of our securities. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements by or attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Except as may be required by securities or other law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Neither this press release nor any related calls or discussions constitutes an offer to sell, the solicitation of an offer to buy or a recommendation with respect to any securities of the Company, the fund, or any other issuer.
FAQ
What did Comstock (LODE) announce on January 12, 2026 about California operations?
How will the Comstock (LODE) California facility handle end-of-life solar panels?
Which materials will Comstock (LODE) recover from recycled solar panels?
Does Comstock (LODE) have permitting in place for recycling operations?
Who is the California facility intended to serve for Comstock (LODE)?
