Comstock Metals Receives Final Air Quality Permit For Its First-Of-A-Kind, Industrial Scale Solar Panel Processing Facility
Rhea-AI Summary
Comstock (NYSE: LODE) received an Air Quality Permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection for its industry-scale solar panel recycling facility in Silver Springs, NV.
The facility is designed to process more than 3 million panels per year (up to 100,000 tons/year) from one continuous production line. Equipment orders and initial deliveries occurred in late December, with remaining deliveries expected in January and commissioning still scheduled for Q1 2026. A Written Determination Permit is in the public notice period and expected to be finalized shortly.
Positive
- Air Quality Permit received from Nevada regulator
- Facility capacity: >3 million panels/year (~100,000 tons/year)
- Equipment ordered with initial deliveries occurring in late December
- Commissioning still scheduled for Q1 2026
Negative
- Written Determination Permit not yet final; currently in public notice
- Single continuous production line concentrates throughput risk at one site
- Remaining equipment deliveries expected through January create schedule dependency
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, LODE gained 3.66%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -10.9% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 32 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $7M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $196M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
LODE fell 4.73% while several peers rose (e.g., PLG +4.33%, LGO +4.39%, USGO +3.01%), with PLL down 9.6%, indicating stock-specific pressure rather than a broad sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 09 | Business recognition | Positive | +3.5% | Regional authorities recognized Comstock Metals for growth and innovation. |
| Dec 08 | Acquisition deal | Positive | -6.5% | Bioleum acquired Hexas Biomass in a cash, stock and debt mix. |
| Dec 03 | IP acquisition | Positive | +1.5% | Bioleum bought RenFuel patents and IP with equity, warrants and cash. |
| Nov 24 | Permit eligibility | Positive | -3.3% | Received eligibility notifications for key Silver Springs facility permits. |
| Nov 17 | Investor event | Positive | +9.1% | Announced CEO participation in a Water Tower Research fireside chat. |
Recent ostensibly positive news often saw mixed reactions, with 3 aligned positive moves and 2 negative divergences.
Over the last few months, Comstock has reported several expansion and recognition milestones. In Nov–Dec 2025, it highlighted eligibility for permits for its Silver Springs solar panel recycling facility (capacity over 3 million panels and 100,000 tons annually), participated in an investor fireside chat, and announced Bioleum-related acquisitions totaling over $24 million. Recognition from regional economic authorities on Dec 9, 2025 reinforced its positioning in northern Nevada. Today’s final air quality permit advances the same Silver Springs scale-up theme previously flagged in November.
Regulatory & Risk Context
An effective S-3 shelf filed on Nov 21, 2025 allows Comstock to offer up to $200,000,000 of various securities, including up to $100,000,000 of common stock via a sales agreement. A related 424B5 on Dec 10, 2025 established an at-the-market program, indicating capacity to raise equity capital to fund Comstock Metals facilities and other initiatives.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement advances Comstock’s transition from permitting to commissioning its Silver Springs solar panel recycling facility, designed to handle over 3 million panels and up to 100,000 tons of waste annually. The final air quality permit, coupled with the anticipated written determination, completes the core regulatory approvals. Recent filings, including a $200,000,000 shelf and at-the-market structure, highlight an intent to fund scale-up. Investors may watch execution on the Q1 2026 commissioning timeline and future capital raises.
Key Terms
photovoltaics technical
heavy-metal technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
VIRGINIA CITY, Nev., Jan. 07, 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 received its Air Quality Permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection – Bureau of Air Pollution Control (NDEP-BAPC), for the processing of waste solar panels and photovoltaics for its industry-scale materials recovery facility located in Silver Springs, NV. This timely approval keeps our scale-up plans for commissioning our first industry-scale facility in Silver Springs, NV, right on schedule.
This Air Quality Permit follows the recently received notification of eligibility for a Written Determination Permit from the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection – Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management (NDEP-BSMM), also now through the public notice period. Once the Written Determination Permit is final, which is expected shortly, these two major permits represent the complete scope of required regulatory approvals for commissioning the scale up of a facility designed for processing more than 3 million panels per year from one, continuous production line, representing up to 100,000 tons per year of waste materials being processed. This facility integrates technologies for efficiently processing, conditioning, extracting, and recycling metal concentrates from photovoltaics. The Company previously reported that the equipment for the plant was ordered, and fabrication is also proceeding as planned with deliveries already occurring in late December with remaining equipment expected throughout the month of January, so that we can begin installation, testing, and commissioning of the industry-scale facility, still scheduled to be completed during the first quarter of 2026. The process for both Air and BSMM permits has proceeded essentially as planned, since last Spring, when the final forms for both permits were submitted.
“We commend BAPC for its collaborative leadership in issuing the first major Air Quality Permit for solar panel recycling, enabling the expansion of Nevada’s only zero-landfill, end-of-life solar solution,” said Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. “This effort keeps critical materials out of landfills and eliminates the need to offshore the problem. We are thankful for our strong regulatory partnerships right here in Nevada and the ongoing community support for protecting our land, water, and public health from these potential heavy-metal contaminations.”
Many of the older U.S. solar panels in service have been deployed in the southwestern U.S., primarily California, Arizona, and Nevada, with decommissioning of these solar panels occurring now, accelerating supply and increasing the demand for environmentally responsible end-of-life solutions, negating potential legacy liability faced by our customers should the panels not be
“We have built both technological and market leadership in this rapidly expanding end-of-life supply chain,” said Corrado De Gasperis, Executive Chairman and CEO of Comstock. “Our metals team is operationalizing the site and storage authorizations so we can scale our platform and address this growing environmental challenge, especially in an environment where these critical and precious metals are in such strong demand. We are creating a platform for rapid, nationwide expansion.”
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. Forward-looking statements include statements about matters such as: future market conditions; future explorations or acquisitions; divestitures, spin-offs or similar distribution transactions, future changes in our research, development and exploration activities; future financial, natural, and social gains; future prices and sales of, and demand for, our products and services; land entitlements and uses; permits; production capacity and operations; operating and overhead costs; future capital expenditures and their impact on us; operational and management changes (including changes in the Board of Directors); changes in business strategies, planning and tactics; future employment and contributions of personnel, including consultants; future land and asset sales; investments, acquisitions, divestitures, spin-offs or similar distribution transactions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, business combinations, operational, tax, financial and restructuring initiatives, including the nature, timing and accounting for restructuring charges, derivative assets and liabilities and the impact thereof; contingencies; litigation, administrative or arbitration proceedings; environmental compliance and changes in the regulatory environment; offerings, limitations on sales or offering of equity or debt securities, including asset sales and associated costs; business opportunities, growth rates, future working capital, needs, revenues, variable costs, throughput rates, operating expenses, debt levels, cash flows, margins, taxes and earnings. 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 permit did Comstock (LODE) receive on January 7, 2026?
How many solar panels can Comstock's Silver Springs facility process per year (LODE)?
When is Comstock (LODE) expecting to complete commissioning of the Silver Springs plant?
Is Comstock's Written Determination Permit for Silver Springs finalized (LODE)?
Have Comstock's plant equipment deliveries started for the Silver Springs facility (LODE)?
