Comstock (LODE) 10-K2021 FY Annual report

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

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FORM 10-K

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COMSTOCK MINING INC.

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10K

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

The following is a list of defined terms and naming conventions used in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, unless

otherwise specified:

MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA FORECASTS

This document includes industry data and forecasts prepared by third parties. Third-party industry publications generally state that the information contained therein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but do not guarantee the accuracy and completeness of such information. In particular, we have based much of our discussion of the renewable fuels industry, including government regulation relevant to that industry, on information published by the RFA. The RFA is a trade organization and they may present information in a manner that is more favorable than would be presented by an independent source. We have also used data and other information in this document that was published by the EIA, the EPA, and CARB. Forecasts in particular are subject to a high risk of inaccuracy, especially forecasts projected over long periods of time.

CAUTIONARY INFORMATION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Occurrence of such events or circumstances could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows and 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. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report or the date of the document incorporated by reference in this report. 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.

ITEM 1        BUSINESS

OVERVIEW

Comstock innovates technologies that contribute to global decarbonization and circularity by efficiently converting massive supplies of under-utilized natural resources into renewable fuels and electrification products that contribute to balancing global uses and emissions of carbon. We intend to use our technologies to achieve exponential growth and extraordinary financial, natural and social returns by:

Our objective is to generate over $16 billion in revenue on an annualized basis by 2030, by responsibly producing and selling renewable energy products that enable us, our clients, and their downstream stakeholders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100 million metric tons per year. Meeting that objective would offset the equivalent of more than 234 million barrels per year of fossil fuel, or about 6% of the U.S. transportation burn.

marine fuel, and other renewable replacements for long cycle fossil derivatives. Our full portfolio of patented, patent-pending and proprietary technologies includes many additional processes that complement and add to that potential.

We expect to use our technologies to meet our 2030 objectives with less than just 8% of the biomass residues produced annually in the U.S., however, we have structured our business to achieve and enable exponentially greater gains. We believe that the Earth’s natural carbon cycle provides the simplest, fastest, most scalable, and most practical path for enabling systemic decarbonization and achieving a net zero carbon world. Our strategic plan is consequently based on commercializing our technologies and renewable energy products to simultaneously:

We group our business activities into two operating segments to manage performance:

We earned $228,123 and $201,700 in revenue in our strategic and other investments segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. We earned $634,042 and $0 in revenue in our renewable energy products segment for each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.

We had loss from operations of $4,604,326 and $5,474,261 per year for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 in our strategic and other investments segment. We had loss from operations of $1,801,595 and $0 per year for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 in our renewable energy products segment.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Comstock historically focused on natural resource exploration, development, and production, with an emphasis on mining gold and silver resources from its extensive contiguous property holdings in the historic Comstock Lode and Silver City mining districts in Nevada (collectively, our “Comstock Mineral Estate”). Between 2012 and 2016, we mined and processed about 2.6 million tons of mineralized material from the Comstock Mineral Estate, producing 59,515 ounces of gold and 735,252 ounces of silver. We subsequently focused on exploration and development activities in anticipation of continued production, while evaluating and exploiting opportunities for the monetization of selected assets, debt elimination, new investments, and diversification. During 2020 and 2021, we completed a series of transactions that were designed to build on our competencies and position us to address and capitalize on the global transition to clean energy. Those transactions primarily included (i) our sale of Comstock Mining, LLC, the owner of our Lucerne resource area in Storey County, Nevada, and related permits, (ii) our acquisitions of 100% of Comstock Innovations Corporation (F/K/A Plain Sight Innovations Corporation), 100% of Comstock Engineering Corporation (F/K/A Renewable Process Solutions, Inc.), 100% of MANA Corporation and 90% of LINICO Corporation, (iii) our acquisition of intellectual property assets from FLUX Photon Corporation, and (iv) our purchase of 48.19% of Quantum Generative Materials LLC and 25% of Mercury Clean Up LLC. Collectively, these transactions added the management, employees, facilities, intellectual properties, and other assets we needed to restructure and transform our company and business into an emerging leader in the innovation and sustainable production of renewable energy products, including cellulosic fuels and electrification metals. Additional information on these transactions is provided in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS

Our management team has deep experience in a diverse array of industries, including renewable fuels, hazardous waste, graphite, mining, metal manufacturing, agriproducts, and intellectual property research, development, and commercialization. We have core competencies in systemic management and innovating and scaling new technologies to commercial maturity, with significant expertise and know-how in the design, engineering, construction, integration, operation, and scaling of facilities based on our patented, patent-pending, and proprietary processes and other technologies. Our expertise, know-how, technologies, and patent position collectively comprise our primary competitive strengths, and form the basis for our growth plans and the value-added renewable energy products, process solutions, related services, and client licensing options.

Our team has designed, engineered, built, commissioned, and operated many industrial processing facilities in multiple industries, including 26 advanced renewable fuel production facilities for third-party clients. Most notably, our team invented and commercialized technologies that integrate into the backend of corn ethanol plants to extract and recover what was an historically-overlooked natural resource – inedible crude corn oil, for use in the production of advanced carbon-neutral liquid fuels and other biomass-derived alternatives to fossil fuel products. Upwards of 95% of the U.S. corn ethanol industry uses that technology today to offset more than 20 million barrels of fossil fuels per year, with an estimated total lifetime contribution in excess of 250 million barrels of avoided fossil fuel. Those results are validating proof of a repeatable and scalable concept that we plan on capitalizing on with our patented, patent-pending and proprietary technologies. Our strategic and tactical plans rely on the commercialization of technologies for renewable energy products that shift and leverage the consumption patterns of industries and populations to enable systemic decarbonization and contribute to a net zero carbon world.

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

Electrification and continued advancements in energy storage are vitally necessary to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. However, more than 70% of the electricity needed to power that infrastructure is currently generated by the combustion of fossil fuels, notwithstanding the impact of increased global urgency, continued innovation, and the accelerating growth of renewable energy.

Simultaneously, about 9% of the estimated 70 million new vehicles sold worldwide in 2021 were electric. While electric vehicle (“EV”) sales are anticipated to account for between 30% and 50% of new vehicle sales by 2030, there will only be about 145 million EVs on the road in 2030 under those aggressive growth scenarios. In contrast, there were more than 1.45 billion passenger cars and commercial vehicles in use worldwide at the end of 2020, and more than 98% of them were powered by gasoline or diesel fuel. Those vehicles accounted for 63% of the 7.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emitted by the transportation sector in 2020, and that amount is expected to increase by more than 50% as the combustion fleet

continues to grow beyond 2030. The growth and turnover of that fleet will continue to have a significant impact on the world’s harmful carbon emissions.

The Earth’s natural carbon cycle provides a highly-scalable pathway for global decarbonization. The key to using it is to strike and sustain a profitable new balance between its living systems and humanity’s global uses, wastes, and emissions of carbon. We plan on doing so by focusing on and working exclusively with the abundance of short cycle carbon that’s already on and above the surface of the Earth, and by leaving as much long cycle fossil carbon as possible in subsurface reserves. Humanity’s combustion practices can become a part of the natural carbon cycle by providing sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide to grow more terrestrial biomass, which would increase and ultimately iterate to a healthy balance with the available emissions.

Our strategic plan is based on innovating and using our technologies and the renewable energy products that they enable to reduce reliance on long cycle fossil fuels, to shift to and maximize throughput of short cycle fuels, and to lead and support the adoption and growth of a balanced global short cycle carbon ecosystem, with embedded economic incentives to offset, recycle, and contribute to neutralizing emissions by growing and selling more feedstock and fuel. Our objective is to generate over $16 billion in revenue on an annualized basis by 2030, by responsibly producing and selling renewable energy products that enable us, our clients, and their stakeholders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100 million metric tons per year. Meeting that objective would offset the equivalent of 234 million barrels per year of fossil fuel, or about 6% of the U.S. transportation burn.

We also make strategic and other investments that contribute to our mission of enabling systemic decarbonization and help to realize our vision of a net zero carbon world. Our current investments include advanced new technologies involving atmospheric water harvesting, carbon capture and utilization, and quantum computing to harness quantum-enabled generative adversarial neural networks to develop breakthrough new materials for energy storage, electronics, carbon capture and utilization, and mining.

COMPETITION

We compete with other renewable fuels, electrification metals, clean technology engineering, licensing, and mineral exploration companies in connection with the acquisition of properties and other assets, feedstock and offtake agreements, and clients, and the attraction and retention of human capital. Those competitors may have substantially greater financial resources than we do.

While we plan to produce and sell renewable alternatives to fossil crude to fuel producers, we also have the capability of directly refining those alternates into renewable fuels, We accordingly face competition from producers and suppliers of fossil fuels, and producers, marketers, traders, and distributors of renewable fuels.

Our cellulosic ethanol products will compete with ethanol produced by the highly fragmented U.S. corn ethanol industry, including from plants owned by farmers, cooperatives, oil refiners and retail fuel operators that may continue to operate even

when market conditions are not favorable due to the benefits realized from their other operations. As of December 31, 2020, the top five corn ethanol producers operated 69 plants and accounted for approximately 40% of the domestic production capacity with capacities ranging from 800 million gallons per year to 1.8 billion gallons per year. About half of the corn ethanol plants in the U.S. are standalone facilities that accounted for approximately 38% of domestic production capacity. The size of the biomass-based diesel industry is small compared to the size of the petroleum-based diesel fuel industry. In the United States and Canadian biomass-based diesel markets, we will compete with independent biomass-based diesel producers, as well as large, multi-product companies that have greater resources than we do.

Ag Processing Inc., Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill Incorporated, and Louis Dreyfus Commodities Group are major international agribusiness corporations and biodiesel producers with the financial, feedstock sourcing and marketing resources to be formidable competitors in the biodiesel industry. These agribusiness competitors tend to make renewable fuel as part of their integrated agribusinesses. We will also compete with several large and well capitalized producers of renewable diesel. Neste Corporation has about 900 million gallons of renewable diesel production capacity in Asia and Europe, a significant portion of which is imported into the U.S. Diamond Green Diesel, LLC, a joint venture between Valero Energy Corporation and Darling Ingredients Inc., produces about 275 million gallons per year of renewable diesel and it is in the process of expanding capacity to 675 million gallons per year by 2022. In January 2021, Valero announced that it will build a 470 million gallons per year renewable diesel plant in Texas with Darling. We expect significant renewable diesel capacity to initiate new production by 2030.

We also operate in the lithium-ion battery (“LIB”) recycling industry, where we face competition primarily from companies that focus on one type of recycling, some of which have more expertise in the recycling of that material than we do. We also compete against companies that have a substantial competitive advantage because of longer operating histories and greater financial and other resources. National or global competitors could enter the market with more substantial financial and workforce resources, stronger existing customer relationships, and greater name recognition, or could choose to target medium to small companies in our markets. Competitors could also focus their substantial resources on developing more efficient recovery solutions than our highly efficient processes planned for lithium, graphite and other material extraction. Competition also places downward pressure on contract prices and profit margins, which presents significant challenges to maintaining growth rates and acceptable margins.

CUSTOMERS

The Company is not dependent on a limited number of customers for its sales.

ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL, AND GOVERNANCE

We are an emerging leader in the global shift to a circular economy. Our systemic management methodology, corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) and environmental, social, and governance (“ESG”) policies and framework defines, seeks, and accounts for benefits in ways that align all of our stakeholder interests with sustainability objectives that are designed to rise to the realities of our time; where benefits are defined in terms of three different interdependent forms of capital – financial, natural, and social, that we generate while making a positive impact on the economy, the environment, and our local and global communities.

Our objective is to generate over $16 billion in revenue on an annualized basis by 2030, by responsibly producing and selling renewable energy products that enable us, our clients, and their downstream stakeholders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

by at least 100 million metric tons per year. Meeting that objective would offset the equivalent of more than 234 million barrels per year of fossil fuel, or about 6% of the U.S. transportation burn.

REGULATORY MATTERS

Once operational, our renewable energy products segment will be sensitive to government programs and policies that affect the supply and demand for ethanol, gasoline, renewable diesel, jet fuel, marine fuel, other renewable fuels, and their intermediates, precursors, and derivatives, which in turn may impact our throughput.

The demand for cellulosic and carbon neutral fuels is rapidly increasing, and supply is virtually non-existent for the want of recently developed process technologies. Global demand is approaching 10% of the total fuel supply, with stable market prices linked to carbon reduction standards. America’s renewable fuels standard (“RFS II”) is driving innovation by both requiring and incentivizing use of advanced cellulosic fuels, including for upwards of 16 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol annually by 2022.

Under the RFS II, renewable fuel producers are essentially guaranteed market access inasmuch as fossil fuel producers are required to purchase renewable fuels to meet RFS II quotas. The EPA assigns individual refiners, blenders and importers the volume of renewable fuels they are obligated to blend into the fuel supply each year based on their percentage of total fuel sales. The EPA has the authority to waive the mandates in whole or in part if there is inadequate domestic renewable fuel supply, if the requirement severely harms the environment, or harms the economy of the nation or a state. The RFS II volume requirements apply to petroleum refiners and petroleum fuel importers in the 48 contiguous states and Hawaii, who are defined as obligated parties in the RFS II regulations. Obligated parties are required to incorporate a certain percentage of renewable fuel into their petroleum-based fuel or purchase credits in the form of renewable identification numbers from those who do. An obligated party’s RVO is based on the volume of petroleum-based fuel they produce or import. The largest U.S. petroleum refining companies, such as British Petroleum, Chevron, Citgo, ExxonMobil, Marathon, PBE, Phillips 66, and Valero, represent the majority of the total RVO, with the remainder made up of smaller refiners and importers.

The advanced biofuel RVO is expressed in terms of ethanol equivalent volumes, or EEV, which is based on the fuel’s renewable energy content compared to ethanol. Renewable diesel typically has an EEV of 1.7, compared to 1.0 for ethanol. Accordingly, it requires less biomass-based diesel than ethanol to meet the required volumes as each gallon of biomass-based diesel counts as more gallons for purposes of fulfilling the advanced biofuel RVO, providing an incentive for refiners and importers to purchase biomass-based diesel to meet their advanced biofuel RVO.

Advanced cellulosic and other fuels are able to be sold at higher prices than traditional corn ethanol due to their increased GHG reductions. The EPA ensures compliance with the RFS II by assigning a Renewable Identification Numbers (“RINs”) to each gallon of renewable fuel produced or imported into the U.S. RINs are generated by renewable fuel producers, passed onto fossil fuel producers that purchase renewable fuels, and then submitted to the EPA. Producers assign RINs to their renewable fuels and the RINs are detached when the renewable fuel is blended with transportation fuel domestically. Market participants can trade the detached RINs in the open market. Fossil fuel producers that do not want to buy and distribute renewable fuel can buy RINs and submit them to the EPA to show compliance with RFS II. Obligated parties must obtain and retire the required number of RINs to satisfy their RVO during a particular compliance period. An obligated party can obtain RINs by buying renewable fuels with RINs attached, buying RINs that have been separated, or producing renewable fuels themselves. All RIN activity under RFS II must be entered into the EPA’s moderated transaction system, which tracks RIN generation, transfer and retirement. RINs are retired when used for compliance with the RFS II requirements.

The market price of detached RINs affects the price of renewable fuels in certain markets and can influence purchasing decisions by obligated parties. The value of RINs can significantly impact to the price of renewable fuel. In 2020, RIN prices reported by the Oil Pricing Information System, or OPIS, fluctuated significantly throughout the year and ranged from a low of $0.37 per gallon to a high of $1.03 per gallon, or 45% of the average spot price, in December 2020.

The federal biodiesel mixture excise tax credit (“BTC”), provides an additional $1.00 refundable tax credit per gallon to the first blender of biomass-based diesel with petroleum-based diesel fuel. The BTC can then be credited against federal excise tax liabilities or the blender can obtain a cash refund from the U.S. Treasury for the value of the credit. The BTC was first implemented on January 1, 2005 and has been allowed to lapse multiple times before being retroactively reinstated. The BTC is an incentive shared across the advanced biofuel production and distribution chain through routine, daily trading and negotiation. In December 2019, the BTC was retroactively reinstated for 2018 and 2019, and made effective from January 2020 through December 2022.

Individual state and other governments are also pushing the demand beyond the federal requirements. California, Oregon, Washington and British Columbia all have Low Carbon Fuel Standards (“LCFS”) that encourage consumption of advanced biofuels by setting annual carbon intensity (“CI”) emission standards which reduce over time. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, more than 40 states have implemented various programs that encourage the use of biomass-based diesel through blending requirements as well as various tax incentives.

The goal of California’s LCFS, for example, is to reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector by 20% by 2032. The regulation quantifies lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions by assigning a CI score to each transportation fuel based on that fuel’s lifecycle assessment. Each petroleum fuel provider (generally the fuel’s producer or importer, or “regulated party”) is required to ensure that the overall CI score for its fuel pool meets the annual CI target for a given year. A regulated party’s fuel pool can include gasoline, diesel, and their blendstocks and substitutes. Any alternative fuel is characterized by its CI, generating credits based on its carbon emissions (or lack thereof). Fuels with the lowest CI score, generate the most credits, and reap the highest market price. Although any fuel can generate credits, California also has an E10 mandate which requires all gasoline be mixed with 10% ethanol, this has led to a consistent demand for over 1 billion gallons of ethanol per year. As the LCFS and CI requirements get increasingly stringent, fuel providers will be unable to meet their required CI reductions with corn ethanol alone. Comstock’s advanced cellulosic ethanol is less carbon intensive than conventional corn ethanol, thereby providing opportunities for increased sales. For comparison, the market value of cellulosic ethanol in the California market is equal to the price for conventional ethanol, plus the RIN value, plus the LCFS value based on the CI score. Under current market conditions, our cellulosic ethanol would have a market value in California ranging from $4.97 per gallon with the lower limit CI scoring, to $4.43 per gallon using the upper limit for CI scoring, as compared to $2.16 per gallon for corn ethanol. We will obtain carbon credits when we sell qualified fuels into California. During 2020, California LCFS carbon credits ranged from $167.50 per metric ton to $218.00 per metric ton, as reported by OPIS.

Likewise, the Oregon Clean Fuel Program requires a 10% reduction of the average carbon intensity of Oregon’s transportation fuels from 2020 levels by 2025. The baseline year for the program is 2020 and represents 10% ethanol blended with gasoline and 5% biodiesel blended with diesel. The Oregon Renewable Fuels Standard requires all gasoline sold in the state to be blended with 10% ethanol (“E10”). In addition, all diesel fuel sold in the state must be blended with at least 5% bio-based diesel. In March of 2020, the Oregon Governor issued an executive order to expand the Clean Fuel Program to achieve at least a 20% reduction from 2020 levels by 2030 and a 25% reduction by 2035. The executive order is currently in a rule making process, with a targeted effective date of January 1, 2023. We will obtain carbon credits when we sell qualified fuels in Oregon. During 2020, Oregon OCF carbon credits ranged from $105.00 per metric ton to $155.00 per metric ton, as reported by OPIS.

In the European Union, or EU, the Renewable Energy Directive established a 10% target by 2020 for the use of renewable energy in the transport sector in EU member states. Given the existing limited market presence of alternative fuels or electromobility, the majority of the target has been realized through biofuels. In 2018, a revised Renewable Energy Directive, RED II, was established. RED II set a target of 14% renewables in transport and a 32% reduction of greenhouse gases, to be progressively achieved from 2021 until 2030. Biofuels produced from certain types of waste feedstocks, such as used cooking oil, benefit from extra incentives and so-called advanced feedstocks even get a specific sub-mandate. Additionally, RED II opens up new outlets such as marine fuels or renewable aviation fuels. In 2021, each of the EU Member States is in the process of ratifying RED II into national legislation. Since the adoption of RED II, the EU has introduced the European Green Deal, a package of new measures that are intended to align the EU's environmental goals with the Paris Accord objectives and, according, the European Commission is exploring whether to update RED II.

A small refinery is defined as one that processes fewer than 75,000 barrels of petroleum per day. Small refineries can petition the EPA for a SRE which, if approved, waives their portion of the annual RVO requirements. The EPA, through consultation with the DOE and the USDA can grant a full or partial waiver, or deny it outright within 90 days of submittal. The EPA granted significantly more of these waivers for the 2017, 2018 and 2021 reporting years than they had in prior years. This totaled 790 mmg of waived requirements for the 2021 compliance year, 1.82 billion gallons for 2017 and 1.43 billion gallons for 2018. In

doing so, the EPA effectively reduced the RFS II mandated volumes for those compliance years, and as a result, RIN values declined significantly.

Biofuels groups have filed a lawsuit in the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, challenging the 2019 RVO rule over the EPA’s failure to address small refinery exemptions in the rule making. This was the first RFS II rule making since the expanded use of the exemptions came to light; however, the EPA had declined to cap the number of waivers it grants, and until late 2019, had declined to alter how it accounts for the retroactive waivers in its annual volume calculations. The EPA has a statutory mandate to ensure the volume requirements are met, which are achieved by setting the percentage standards for obligated parties. We believe the EPA’s recent approach accomplished the opposite in that even if all the obligated parties complied with their respective percentage obligations for 2019, the nation’s overall supply of renewable fuel would not meet the total volume requirements set by the EPA. This undermines Congressional intent to increase the consumption of renewable fuels in the domestic transportation fuel supply. Biofuels groups have argued the EPA must therefore adjust its percentage standard calculations to make up for past retroactive waivers and adjust the standards to account for any waivers it reasonably expects to grant in the future. Our design, engineering, licensing, installation, commissioning and maintenance services are subject to various federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, which require a standard of care to control potential pollution and limit actual or potential impacts to the environment and personnel involved. While our engineering and installation work regularly exceeds health, safety and environment requirements, a violation of these laws and regulations, or of permit conditions, can result in substantial fines, natural resource damage, criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns. We do not anticipate a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition as a result of our efforts to comply with these requirements. Operating expenses to meet regulatory requirements, including all environmental permits, will be an integral part of service costs. Costs for compliance with environmental laws include safety and health protection measures, controls limiting air emissions and effluent discharges, emergency response capabilities, storm water management, recordkeeping and training. We often assist our customers in environment, health and safety compliance issues, including new requirements concerning greenhouse gas emissions. It may not be possible to completely segregate our environmental, health and safety responsibilities from those of our customers. In 2019, in a supplemental rule-making to the 2020 RVO rule, the EPA changed their approach, and for the first time accounted for the gallons that they anticipate will be waived from the blending requirements due to small refinery exemptions. To accomplish this, they added in the trailing three year average of gallons the DOE recommended be waived, in effect raising the blending volumes across the board in anticipation of waiving the obligations in whole or in part for certain refineries that qualify for the exemptions. Though the EPA has often disregarded the recommendations of the DOE in years past, they stated in the rule their intent to adhere to these recommendations going forward, including granting partial waivers.

In January 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit ruled on RFA et. al. vs. EPA in favor of biofuels interests, overturning EPA’s granting of refinery exemptions to three refineries on two separate grounds. The Court agreed that, under the Clean Air Act, refineries are eligible for SREs for a given RVO year only if such exemptions are extensions of exemptions granted in previous RVO years. In this case, the three refineries at issue did not qualify for SREs in the year prior to the year that EPA granted them. They were thus ineligible for additional SRE relief because there were no immediately prior SREs to extend. In addition, the Court agreed that the disproportionate economic hardship prong of SRE eligibility should be determined solely by reference to whether compliance with the RFS II creates such hardship, not whether compliance plus other issues create disproportionate economic hardship. The Court thus vacated EPA's grant of SREs for certain years and remanded the grants back to EPA. The refiners appealed for a rehearing which was denied. Two of the refiners appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and in January 2021, the Supreme Court announced they would hear the case. If the decision against the EPA is upheld by the Supreme Court, it is uncertain how the EPA will propose to remedy the situation. In light of the 10th Circuit ruling, a number of refineries have applied for “gap year” SREs in an effort to establish a continuous string of relief and to ensure they are able to qualify for SREs going forward. A total of 64 gap year requests were filed with the EPA and reviewed by the DOE. In September 2020 the EPA announced that they were denying 54 of the gap year requests that had been scored and returned by DOE, regardless of how they had been scored. Without a string of continuous SRE approvals, almost no small refinery would be eligible to apply for hardship relief in this manner, unless the Supreme Court overturns the 10th Circuit ruling, which we believe is unlikely.

Our renewable energy products segment activities are subject to various and extensive environmental and other regulations. We will be required to obtain and maintain various environmental permits to operate our plants and other facilities. Renewable fuel production involves the emission of various airborne pollutants, including particulate, carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds. In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court classified carbon dioxide as an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act in a case seeking to require the EPA to regulate carbon dioxide in vehicle emissions, which the EPA later addressed in RFS II.

There has been an increase in battery regulation globally in recent years. For example, California is evaluating a policy to drive Recycling Efficiency Rates as close to 100% as possible, potentially beginning as early as 2022. In Canada, Ontario is requiring Recycling Efficiency Rates for lithium ion batteries (“LIBs”) of over 70% by 2023. China has required functional material recovery rates greater than 80% since 2018, with specific targets by key materials (nickel, cobalt, and lithium). The European Union proposes to update its EU Battery Directive during 2021 to implement more aggressive recycling targets, including minimum material recovery rates of 90% for both cobalt and nickel by 2025, a minimum recovery rate of 35% for lithium by 2025, and a Recycling Efficiency Rate of least 65% by 2025. Our renewable energy products segment holds all licenses currently required in connection with its technologies and operations. We have engaged a third-party consultant to work across all projects, supporting us with permitting and regulatory compliance, and keeping us apprised of all relevant regulations and related changes.

Our design, engineering, licensing, installation, commissioning and maintenance services are subject to various federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, which require a standard of care to control potential pollution and limit actual or potential impacts to the environment and personnel involved. A violation of these laws and regulations, or of permit conditions, can result in substantial fines, natural resource damage, criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns. We do not anticipate a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition as a result of our efforts to comply with these requirements. Operating expenses to meet regulatory requirements, including all environmental permits, will be an integral part of service costs. Costs for compliance with environmental laws include safety and health protection measures, controls limiting air emissions and effluent discharges, emergency response capabilities, storm water management, recordkeeping and training. We often assist our customers in environment, health and safety compliance issues, including new requirements concerning greenhouse gas emissions. It may not be possible to completely segregate our environment, health and safety responsibilities from those of our customers.

Mining operations and exploration activities are subject to various federal, state, and local laws and regulations in the United States, which govern prospecting, development, mining, production, exports, taxes, labor standards, occupational health, waste disposal, protection of the environment, mine safety, hazardous substances, and other matters. We have obtained substantially all licenses, permits, and other authorizations currently required for our mining, exploration and other development programs. We believe that we are in compliance in all material respects with applicable laws and regulations. Capital expenditures relating to compliance with laws and regulations that regulate the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, comprise a substantial part of our historical capital expenditures and some of our anticipated future capital expenditures. For example, we incur certain expenses and liabilities associated with our reclamation obligations.

We are generally required to mitigate long-term environmental impacts by stabilizing, contouring, re-sloping, and re-vegetating various portions of a site after mining and mineral processing operations are completed. These reclamation efforts are conducted in accordance with plans reviewed and approved by the appropriate regulatory agencies. The Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) 519A to 519A.280 and Nevada Administrative Code (“NAC”) 519A.010 to 519A.415 promulgated by the Nevada State Environmental Commission and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (“NDEP”), Bureau of Mining and Reclamation (“BMRR”) require a surety bond to be posted for mining projects so that, after completion of the work on such mining projects, the sites are left safe, stable and capable of providing for a productive post-mining use. Over the past four years, the Company has provided a reclamation surety bond, through the Lexon Surety Group (“Lexon”), with the BMRR. The BMRR, with concurrence from Storey County, has approved our most recent reclamation plan, as revised, and our estimated total costs related thereto of approximately $7,251,950, including $6,751,950 for BMRR and $500,000 of additional reclamation surety bonding directly, with Storey County. As part of the surety agreement, the Company agreed to pay a 2.0% annual bonding fee and signed a corporate guarantee. The bonded amount is $7,251,950, and the collateral held on deposit at December 31, 2021 is $2,695,944.

CONTINGENCIES

From time to time, we are involved in claims, investigations and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. There are no matters pending that we expect to have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

HUMAN CAPITAL RESOURCES

The attraction, retention and development of employees is critical to our success. We accomplish this, in part, by our systemic management practices, competitive compensation practices, training initiatives, and growth opportunities within the company. Comstock currently has 32 full-time employees. We also employ sales, engineering, research, geological, regulatory, environmental, operating, financial, and administrative personnel. There is no union representation for any of our employees.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Mr. De Gasperis brings more than 35 years of industrial manufacturing, financial, governance, operational and project management experience in the metals, mining, and recycling industries. Mr. De Gasperis has served as Comstock’s chief executive officer since 2010 and executive chairman since 2015. He is also a director and president of each of the Company’s wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries, and Sierra Springs Opportunity Fund, Inc., a strategic investee of Comstock since July 2019. From 2006 to 2009, Mr. De Gasperis served as the chief executive officer of Barzel Industries Inc. (“Barzel”) and its predecessors. Barzel operated a network of 15 steel-based manufacturing, processing and distribution facilities in the United States and Canada that offered a wide range of metal solutions to various industries, from construction and industrial manufacturing to transportation and mining. Mr. De Gasperis resigned from Barzel in September 2009, after Barzel agreed to sell substantially all of its assets in a planned transaction that was consummated in a sale pursuant to Section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code following a multiple party bidding process with suitors focused on both in-court and out-of-court transactions. Barzel and substantially all of its U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries were purchased for $65.0 million in cash. From 1998 to 2006, Mr. De Gasperis held roles of increasing responsibility at GrafTech International Ltd. (“GrafTech”), a global manufacturer of graphite and carbon cathodes and electrodes. From 2001 to 2006, he served as the Chief Financial Officer, in addition to his duties as vice president and chief information officer and a leader of its transformation and recapitalization. From 1998 to 2000, he served as the controller of GrafTech. From 1987 to 1998, Mr. De Gasperis was a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG LLP, an international provider of financial advisory and assurance services. As a Senior Assurance Manager in the Manufacturing, Retail and Distribution Practice, he served clients such as General Electric Company and Union Carbide Corporation. KPMG announced his admittance, as a Partner, effective July 1, 1998. Mr. De Gasperis is also a director and the chairman of the of the Board of Directors of LiNiCo Corporation and chairman of the member committee for Quantum Generative Materials LLC. He is a director of ROK-On Building Systems, a manufacturer of low-carbon, renewable building materials and a strategic investee of Sierra Springs Opportunity Fund Inc and also a founding member and the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Comstock Foundation for History and Culture, a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Internal Revenue Code"). Mr. DeGasperis previously served as a director and as chairman of the Virginia City Tourism Commission. He also has served as a director of GBS Gold International Inc., where he was chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee and a member of the Nominations and Advisory Committees. Mr. De Gasperis holds a BBA from the Ancell School of Business at Western Connecticut State University, with honors.

2021. GreenShift developed and commercialized patented technologies that integrated into the backend of corn ethanol plants to extract and recover a historically-overlooked natural resource – inedible crude corn oil, for use in the production of advanced carbon-neutral liquid fuels and other biomass-derived alternatives to fossil fuel derivatives. Today, upwards of 95% of the U.S. corn ethanol industry uses that technology to displace more than 20 million barrels of fossil fuel, trillions of cubic feet of natural gas, and tens of millions of metric tons of greenhouse gases every year. In total, those gains are globally-meaningful and have accumulated to industry-wide savings exceeding 250 million barrels of fossil fuel. From 1998 to 2004, Mr. Kreisler served as a director and officer of Veridium Corporation, which developed and commercialized an array of selective metals separation technologies, where he led the design, engineering, and construction of an advanced facility for the recycling and reuse of inorganic hazardous and industrial wastes from thousands of different waste streams from dozens of industrial processes. Mr. Kreisler is a graduate of Rutgers University College of Engineering (B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1994), Rutgers University Graduate School of Management (M.B.A., 1995), and Rutgers University School of Law (J.D., 1997). Mr. Kreisler is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Mr. McCarthy joined Comstock as its chief operating officer in July 2021. He is also the chief operating officer over each of the Company’s wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries. He brings over 20 years of experience to Comstock, focused on the development and implementation of systemic, scalable business strategies to drive profitability and revenue growth across a diverse range of industries. Previously, Mr. McCarthy was a co-founder and chief executive officer of Mana Corporation, a developer of biomass-based business strategies. From 2017 to 2020, Mr. McCarthy was the principal of Normandy Road Partners, a boutique advisory firm focused on empowering scalable growth in emerging industries. From 2005 to 2016, Mr. McCarthy held roles of increasing responsibility at SVP Global, a global investment firm focused on distressed debt, special situations and private equity opportunities, most recently as Director of Risk Management. From 2003 to 2005, Mr. McCarthy was an Associate with Resurgence Asset Management, a private equity manager. He began his career at the Principal Financial Group. Mr. McCarthy earned a B.A. in Economics from Tufts University.

Mr. Bobbili joined Comstock as its chief engineering officer in June 2021. He has nearly 20 years of experience in process design, patent licensing, equipment manufacturing, commissioning, project management, and start-up. From 2006 to 2021, Mr. Bobbili served as the chief executive officer of Renewable Process Solutions, Inc., a now wholly-owned subsidiary of Comstock. Mr. Bobbili invented multiple chemical processes in the renewable industry and built twenty-six biofuel refineries in the last fourteen years. Mr. Bobbili has managed multiple industrial-scale projects from construction phases, commissioning, and operations. Mr. Bobbili received a B.S. in Production Engineering from Osmania University, India, a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Old Dominion University, Virginia, and an Executive Finance certification from Stanford University, California.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Comstock maintains a website at www.comstock.inc. Our annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any filed or furnished amendments to those reports pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act are made available through our website as soon as practical after we electronically file or furnish the reports to the SEC. Also available on our website are the Company’s Governance Guidelines and Code of Conduct, as well as the charters of the audit,

compensation and nominating committees of the Board of Directors. Information on our website is not incorporated into this report. Stockholders may request free copies of these documents from Comstock Mining Inc., P.O. Box 1118, Virginia City, Nevada 89440.

FINANCING EVENTS

For the year ended December 31, 2021, we sold 9,220,123 registered shares of common stock at an average share price of $2.97, and net proceeds of $26,335,500 after fees and expenses. In connection with these sales, we issued 143,787 shares for in payment of commitment and due diligence fees. We also issued 26,863,156 unregistered shares of common stock as consideration for acquisitions, investments and payment for mineral rights.

The Company entered into a long-term promissory note ("GHF 2021 Note") with GHF, Inc. on December 15, 2021, with a principal amount of $5,000,000, of which $4,550,000 was funded and $450,000 was an original issue discount ("OID"). The full principal is due on December 15, 2024. Interest is payable monthly at a rate of 6% annually. Prepayment is allowed in full or in part at any time without premium or penalty. The loan is secured by all non-mining related assets of the Company, Silver Springs land and water rights, and the Daney Ranch, excluding the Lucerne and Dayton properties. The Company is required to prepay the promissory note with any net cash proceeds received in the sale of any collateral.

If the promissory note has not been paid in full on or prior to December 15, 2022, the Company will issue warrants to GHF allowing them to purchase 1,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, half of which are exercisable at a price per share of 150% of the 20-day volume weighted average closing price (“VWAP”) of the Company’s common stock on its primary trading market for the 20 consecutive trading days preceding December 15, 2021, and the remainder at a price per share of 135% of the 20-day VWAP as determined on December 15, 2022. At December 31, 2021, the warrants were valued at $70,879. We recognized interest expense of $19,720 during the year ended December 31, 2021 in connection with the GHF 2021 Note.

RISK FACTOR SUMMARY

There are many important factors that have affected, and in the future could affect, our business, including, but not limited to the factors discussed below, which should be reviewed carefully together with other information contained in this report. Some of the factors are beyond our control and future trends are difficult to predict.

An investment in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the following risk factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this report, in evaluating our Company, its business, its industry and prospects. The risks described below are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also have a material adverse effect on us. The following risks could cause our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows to be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the market price of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

BUSINESS AND OPERATING RISKS

If we are unable to generate cash flows from our planned operating activities in our renewable energy products segment, then it is unlikely that the cash generated from our strategic and other investments segment will suffice as a source of the liquidity necessary for anticipated working capital requirements. There is no assurance that the Company’s initiatives to improve its liquidity and financial position will be successful. Accordingly, there is substantial risk that the Company will be unable to continue as a going concern. In the event of insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding up of the Company, the Company’s creditors would be entitled to payment in full out of the Company’s assets before holders of common stock would be entitled to any payment, and the claims on such assets may exceed the value of such assets.

We have a limited operating history. The success of our Company is significantly dependent on the completion of uncertain future events, including the financing, development, permitting, construction, commissioning, start-up, and initiation of sustainable throughput of our planned cellulosic fuels and electrification metals production facilities, the discovery and exploitation of mineralized materials on our properties, selling the rights to exploit those materials, and/or commercializing our other diversified production and processing activities. If our business plan is not successful and we are not able to operate profitably, then our securities may become worthless and investors may lose all of their investment in our Company.

If we are unable to generate significant revenues from our planned production and processing activities in the future, then we will not be able to earn profits or continue operations. We have yet to generate positive operating income and there can be no assurance that we will ever operate profitably. There is no history upon which to base any assumption as to the likelihood that we will prove successful, and we can provide no assurance that we will generate significant revenues or ever achieve profitability. If we are unsuccessful, our business will fail and investors may lose all of their investment in our Company.

Even if we can successfully implement our growth strategy, any failure to manage our growth effectively could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We intend to expand operations significantly by 2030, which will require us to hire and train new employees; accurately forecast supply and demand, production and revenue; control expenses and investments in anticipation of expanded operations; establish new production facilities; and implement and enhance administrative infrastructure, systems and processes. Future growth may also be tied to acquisitions, and we cannot guarantee that we will be able to effectively acquire other businesses or integrate businesses that we acquire. Failure to efficiently manage any of the above could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our future global growth, results of operations and financial condition depend upon our ability to successfully implement our growth strategy, which, in turn, is dependent upon a number of factors, some of which are beyond our control, including our ability to: economically extract and refine wasted and unused natural resources and meet customers’ business needs; complete the construction of future facilities at a reasonable cost and on a timely basis; invest and keep pace in technology, research and development efforts, and the expansion and defense of our intellectual property portfolio; secure and maintain required strategic supply arrangements; effectively compete in the markets in which we operate; and, attract and retain management or other employees with specialized knowledge and technical skills. There can be no assurance that we can successfully achieve any or all of the above initiatives in the manner or time period that we expect. Further, achieving these objectives will require investments that may result in both short-term and long-term costs without generating any current revenue and therefore may be dilutive to earnings. We cannot provide any assurance that we will realize, in full or in part, the anticipated benefits we expect to generate from our growth strategy. Failure to realize those benefits could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

The outbreak of the novel strain of coronavirus, specifically identified as COVID-19, has resulted in governments worldwide enacting emergency measures to combat the spread of the virus. These measures, including the implementation of travel bans, quarantine periods and social distancing, have caused material disruptions to global business and an economic downturn. Global equity markets have experienced significant volatility and weakness. Governments and their central banks have reacted with significant fiscal and monetary interventions designed to mitigate the impacts and stabilize economic conditions. Attempts at containment of COVID-19 resulted in decreased economic activity and adversely affected the broader global economy. At this time, the full extent to which COVID-19 will negatively impact the global economy and our business is uncertain, but pandemics or other significant public health events will most likely have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. It is not currently possible to reliably estimate the length and severity of these delays and the impact on the Company's financial condition, and that of its subsidiaries and partners in future periods.

Further, uncertainties regarding the global economic and financial environment could lead to an extended national or global economic recession. A slowdown in economic activity caused by a recession would likely reduce demand for assets that we hold for sale and result in lower commodity prices for long periods of time. Costs of exploration, development and production have not yet adjusted to current economic conditions, or in proportion to the significant reduction in product prices. Competition and unforeseen limited sources of supplies needed for our planned developments could result in occasional shortages of supplies of certain products, equipment or materials. There is no guarantee we will be able to obtain certain products, equipment and/or materials as and when needed, without interruption, or on favorable terms, if at all. Such delays could affect our anticipated business operations and increase our expenses.

We and other participants in the biomass-based diesel industry rely on governmental programs requiring or incentivizing the consumption of biofuels. Biomass-based diesel has historically been more expensive to produce than petroleum-based diesel fuel and these governmental programs support a market for biomass-based diesel that might not otherwise exist. One of the most important of these programs is the RFS II, a federal law that requires that transportation fuels in the United States contain a minimum amount of renewable fuel. This program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). The EPA's authority includes setting annual minimum aggregate levels of consumption in four renewable fuel categories, including the two primary categories in which we plan to compete, biomass-based diesel and advanced biofuel. The parties obligated to comply with this RVO, are petroleum refiners and petroleum fuel importers. The petroleum industry is strongly opposed to the RFS II and can be expected to continue to press for changes both in the RFS II itself and in the way that it is administered by the EPA. For 2022, the advanced biofuel RVO has been set at 5.04 billion gallons. For The U.S. Congress could repeal, curtail or otherwise change the RFS II program in a manner adverse to us. Similarly, the EPA could curtail or otherwise change its administration of the RFS II program in a manner adverse to us, including by not increasing or even decreasing the RVO, by waiving compliance with the RVO or otherwise. In addition, while Congress specified RFS II volume requirements through 2022 (subject to adjustment in the rule-making process), beginning in 2023 required volumes of renewable fuel will be largely at the discretion of the EPA (in coordination with the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of Agriculture). We cannot predict what changes, if any, will be instituted or the impact of any changes on our business, although adverse changes could seriously harm our revenues, earnings and financial condition.

Federal and state tax incentives have assisted the biomass-based diesel industry by making the price of biomass-based diesel more cost competitive with the price of petroleum-based diesel fuel to the end user. The most significant tax incentive program has been the federal biodiesel mixture excise tax credit, referred to as the Biodiesel Tax Credit ("BTC"). Under the BTC, the first person to blend pure biomass-based diesel with petroleum-based diesel fuel receives a $1.00-per-gallon refundable tax credit. Unlike the RFS II program, the BTC has a direct effect on federal government spending and changes in federal budget policy could result in its elimination or in changes to its terms that are less beneficial to us. We cannot predict what action, if any, Congress may take with respect to the BTC in the future. There is no assurance that the BTC will be reinstated, that it will be reinstated on the same terms or, if reinstated, that its application will be retroactive, prospective or both. Any adverse changes in the BTC can be expected to harm our results of operations and financial condition. Several states have enacted tax incentives for the use of biodiesel. Modification, curtailment or elimination of such incentives could materially and adversely affect our revenues and profitability.

The LCFS is designed to reduce greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions associated with transportation fuels used in California by ensuring that the total amount of fuel consumed meets declining targets for such emissions. The regulation quantifies lifecycle GHG emissions by assigning a carbon intensity ("CI") score to each transportation fuel based on that fuel’s lifecycle assessment. Each petroleum fuel provider, generally the fuel’s producer or importer is required to ensure that the overall CI score for its fuel pool meets the annual carbon intensity target for a given year. This obligation is tracked through credits and deficits and credits can be traded. We expect to receive LCFS credits when we eventually sell qualified fuels in California and other applicable states and jurisdictions. If the value of our planned renewable fuels were to materially decrease as a result of over-supply or reduced demand for our fuels, or if our fuel is deemed not to qualify for LCFS credits, or if the LCFS or the manner in which it is administered or applied were otherwise changed in a manner adverse to us, then our revenues and profits could be seriously harmed.

The demand for our renewable energy products, process solutions, related services, and technology licensing is driven in part by projected increases in the demand for renewable energy and electrification. A decline in the adoption of renewable energy and electrification could reduce the demand for our renewable energy products, process solutions, related services, and technology licensing, which could have a negative impact on our operating results.

We must acquire and maintain feedstock supply commitments as well as new customers, including offtake agreements. Feedstock suppliers may change or delay supply contracts for any number of reasons, such as force majeure or government approval factors that are unrelated to our operations. Customers may fail to perform under their contracts for similar reasons. As a result, in order to maintain and expand our business, we must continue to develop and obtain new feedstock supply and customer contracts. However, it is difficult to predict whether and when we will secure such commitments and/or contracts due to competition for suppliers and customers and the lengthy process of negotiating supplier and customer agreements, which may be affected by factors that we do not control, such as market and economic conditions, financing arrangements, commodity prices, environmental issues and government approvals.

Our business will be highly impacted by commodity price volatility, primarily in the markets for our intended renewable energy products, including carbon neutral cellulosic oil, ethanol, gasoline, renewable diesel, jet fuel, marine fuel, lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, aluminum, gold, silver, and other commodity-driven renewable energy products. While our technologies target and benefit from low cost wasted and unused feedstocks, decreases in the prevailing prices for our renewable energy products will have a negative impact on the amount of cash we are able to produce from our operating activities. Any such decreases may adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

Some of our planned operations will require significant quantities of water for extraction, processing and related support facilities, and some of our planned operations are in areas where water is scarce and competition among users for continuing access to water is significant. Continuous operation at such locations will be dependent on our ability to secure and maintain our water rights and claims, and the continuing physical availability of the water.

As a result of our ownership of real property and water rights, our business may be negatively affected by related risks beyond our control, including without limitation: adverse changes in national, regional and local economic conditions and outlook; economic downturns in the areas where the properties are located; adverse changes in local real estate market conditions such as an oversupply of properties, reduction in demand, intense competition for buyers and/or demographic changes; changes in business or consumer preferences that reduce the attractiveness of our properties; changes in zoning, regulatory restrictions or tax laws; and, changes in interest rates or availability of financing. These conditions could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows, or the market price of our stock.

We do not have proven or probable reserves. Substantial expenditures are required to acquire existing gold properties with established reserves or to establish proven or probable reserves through drilling, analysis and engineering. Any sums expended for additional drilling, analysis and engineering may not establish proven or probable reserves on our properties. We drill in connection with our mineral exploration and mining activities and not with the purpose of establishing proven and probable reserves. While we estimate the amount of mineralized material we believe exists on our properties, our calculations are subject to uncertainty due to several factors, including the quantity and grade of the mineralized material, metal prices and recoverability of minerals in the mineral recovery process. There is a great degree of uncertainty attributable to the calculation of any mineralized material, particularly where there has not been significant drilling, mining and processing. Until the mineralized material located on our properties is actually mined and processed, the quantity and quality of the mineralized material must be considered as an estimate only. In addition, the estimated value of such mineralized material (regardless of the

quantity) will vary depending on metal prices. Any material change in the estimated value of mineralized material may negatively affect the economic viability of our properties. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will achieve the same recoveries of metals contained in the mineralized material as in small-scale laboratory tests, or that we will be able to duplicate such results in larger scale tests under on-site conditions or during production. There can be no assurance that our exploration activities will result in the discovery of sufficient quantities of mineralized material to recover our investment and operating costs.

Mineral exploration, development and beneficiation, particularly for gold, silver and other strategic metals, is highly speculative in nature and frequently is nonproductive. There can be no assurance that our exploration, development and/or acquisition activities will be commercially successful. If gold mineralization is discovered, it may take a number of years from the initial phases of drilling until production is possible, during which time the economic feasibility of production may change. Substantial expenditures are required to acquire existing gold properties, to establish mineral reserves through drilling and analysis, to develop metallurgical processes to extract metal from the mineralized material and, in the case of new properties, to develop the processing facilities and infrastructure at any site chosen for mineral exploration. There can be no assurance that any gold reserves or mineralized material that may be discovered or acquired in the future, if any, will be in sufficient quantities or of adequate grade to justify commercial operations, or that the funds required for mineral production operation can be obtained on a timely or reasonable basis, if at all. Mining companies must continually replace mineralized material or reserves depleted by production. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in replacing any reserves or mineralized material acquired or established in the future.

The capital expenditures and time required to acquire, develop and explore our projects are considerable and changes in costs, construction schedules or both, can adversely affect project economics and expected production and profitability. There are a number of factors that can affect costs and construction schedules, including, among others:

Our reports of mineral resources, other mineralized material and grading are estimates and depend upon geological interpretation and statistical inferences or assumptions drawn from drilling and sampling analysis, which may prove to be unpredictable. There is a degree of uncertainty attributable to the calculation of mineral resources and corresponding grades. Until mineral resources and other mineralized materials are actually mined and processed, the quantity of mineralized material and grades must be considered as an estimate only. In addition, the quantity of mineral resources and other mineralized materials may vary depending on metal prices. Any material change in the quantity of mineral resources, other mineralized materials, mineralization, grade or stripping ratio may affect the economic viability of our properties. In addition, we can

provide no assurance that gold recoveries or other metal recoveries experienced in small-scale laboratory tests will be duplicated in larger scale tests under on-site conditions or during production.

Our operations will be significantly affected by changes in the market price of metals and minerals that we are able to produce or extract. Commodity prices can fluctuate widely and may be affected by numerous factors, such as expectations for inflation, levels of interest rates, currency exchange rates, purchases and sales by governments and central banks, monetary policies employed by the world’s major central banks, fiscal policies employed by the world’s major industrialized economies, forward selling or other hedging activities, demand, global or regional political and economic crises, and production costs in other regions. The aggregate effect of these factors, all of which are beyond our control, is impossible for us to predict. If prices decline substantially, it could adversely affect the realizable value of our assets and, potentially, future results of operations and cash flow.

Our revenues will depend on processing wasted and unused natural resources, and our revenues will be directly impacted by the chemistry of the feedstocks we acquire and process, particularly as market chemistries shift. Certain feedstock chemistries produce raw materials such as cobalt for which we receive higher prices than others. A decline in overall volume of feedstock processed, or a decline in volume of chemistries with higher priced content relative to other chemistries, could result in a significant decline in our revenues, which in turn would have a material impact on its results of operations.

Our revenue will be dependent on the continued operations of our planned future cellulosic fuels and electrification metals facilities, as well as other future facilities that we develop in the future. To the extent that we experience any operational risk including, among other things, fire and explosions, severe weather and natural disasters (such as floods and hurricanes), failures in water supply, major power failures, equipment failures (including any failure of information technology, air conditioning, and cooling and compressor systems), failures to comply with applicable regulations and standards, labor force and work stoppages, including those resulting from local or global pandemics or otherwise, or if current or future facilities become capacity constrained, we may be required to make capital expenditures even though we may not have sufficient available resources at such time. Additionally, there is no guarantee that the proceeds available from our insurance policies will be sufficient to cover such capital expenditures. Our insurance coverage and available resources may prove to be inadequate for events that may cause significant disruption to our operations. Any disruption in our production facilities could result in delivery delays, scheduling problems, increased costs or production interruption, which, in turn, may result in its customers deciding to send their feedstock to our competitors. We will be dependent on our current and future facilities, which will in the future require a high degree of capital expenditures. If one or more of our facilities becomes inoperative, capacity constrained,

or if operations are disrupted, then our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

The exploration for natural resources and the development and production of mining operations are activities that involve a high level of uncertainty. These can be difficult to predict and are often affected by risks and hazards outside of our control. These factors include, but are not limited to:

Our current and planned operating activities are inherently hazardous. Operations in which we have direct or indirect interests will be subject to all the hazards and risks normally incidental to extraction and refining of wasted and unused natural resources into renewable energy products, any of which could result in work stoppages, damage to property and possible environmental damage. The nature of these risks is such that liabilities might exceed any applicable liability insurance policy limits. It is also possible that the liabilities and hazards might not be insurable, or we could elect not to insure ourselves against such liabilities because of the high premium costs, in which event, we could incur significant costs that could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. Because some of our inputs and outputs will be combustible and/or flammable, a leak, fire or explosion may occur at a plant or customer’s facility which could result in damage to the plant and nearby properties, injury or death to employees and others, and interruption of operations. The operations at our facilities are also subject to the risk of natural disasters. An earthquake or other natural disaster could disrupt our ability to transport, store and deliver products to California. Changing weather patterns and climatic conditions, such as global warming, have added to the unpredictability and frequency of natural disasters and have created additional uncertainty. The Company's operations could be exposed to a number of physical risks from climate change, such as changes in rainfall rates, rising sea levels, reduced water availability, higher temperatures, fire and other extreme weather events. We are not able to accurately predict the materiality of any potential losses or costs associated with the physical effects of climate change. If we experience a fire or other serious incident at our facilities or if any of our facilities is affected by a natural disaster, we may incur significant additional costs, including, loss of profits due to unplanned temporary or permanent shutdowns of our facilities, loss of the ability to transport products or increased costs to do so, cleanup costs, liability for damages or injuries, legal and reconstruction expenses. The occurrence of significant additional costs would harm our results of operations and financial condition.

We intend to store our renewable energy products, including renewable fuels, in above ground storage tanks and transport fuel with third-party truck and rail carriers. Our operations are subject to significant hazards and risks inherent in transporting and storing fuel. These hazards and risks include, but are not limited to, accidents, fires, explosions, spills, discharges, and other releases, any of which could result in distribution difficulties and disruptions, environmental pollution, governmentally imposed fines or clean-up obligations, personal injury or wrongful death claims, and other damage to property. Any such event not covered by our insurance could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business will depend on transportation services. The costs of these transportation services are affected by the volatility in fuel prices or other factors, such as tank car availability and prices. If oil production from this area increases, the demand for rail cars will rise and will significantly increase rail car prices. We may not be able to pass along part or all of any of these price increases to customers. If we are unable to increase our prices as a result of increased fuel costs charged to us by transportation providers, our gross margins may be materially adversely affected. If any transportation providers fail to deliver raw materials to us in a timely manner, we may be unable to manufacture products on a timely basis. Shipments of products and raw materials may be delayed and any such delay or failure could harm our reputation, negatively affect our customer relationships and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Extreme weather events (such as increased frequency or intensity of storms or prolonged drought, flooded or frozen terrain) have the potential to disrupt operations at our projects. Extended disruptions to supply lines due to extreme weather could result in interruption of activities at the project sites, delay or increase the cost of construction of the projects, or otherwise adversely affect our business.

The production of our products in the future may require a wide variety of raw materials, key inputs and components and other. Such critical raw materials, key inputs and components and other goods may only be available from limited or single sources of supply. If the receipt of certain limited source or single source materials is delayed, our relationship with customers may be harmed if such delays cause us to miss our scheduled shipment deadlines. Our current or alternative sources may not be able to continue to meet all of our demands on a timely basis. If suppliers or subcontractors experience difficulties or fail to meet our manufacturing requirements, our business would be harmed until we are able to secure alternative sources, if any, on commercially reasonable terms. A prolonged inability to obtain certain raw materials, key components or other goods is possible and could have a significant adverse effect on our business operations, damage our relationships with customers, or even lead to permanent loss of customer orders.

A significant portion of our operations and construction projects are currently conducted in whole or in part by contractors. As a result, our operations are subject to a number of risks, some of which are outside our control, including:

In addition, we may incur liability to third parties as a result of the actions of our contractors. The occurrence of one or more of these risks could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

We compete with other renewable fuels, electrification metals, clean technology engineering and licensing, and mineral exploration and mining companies in connection with the acquisition of properties and other assets, feedstock and offtake agreements, and clients, and the attraction and retention of human capital. Those competitors may have substantially greater financial resources than we do.

Our renewable energy products segment will face competition from producers and suppliers of fossil fuels, and producers, marketers, traders, and distributors of renewable fuels. Our cellulosic ethanol products will compete with ethanol produced by the highly fragmented U.S. corn ethanol industry, including from plants owned by farmers, cooperatives, oil refiners and retail fuel operators that may continue to operate even when market conditions are not favorable due to the benefits realized from their other operations. In the United States and Canadian biomass-based diesel markets, we will compete with independent biomass-based diesel producers, as well as large, multi-product companies that have greater resources than we do. There are also major international agribusiness corporations and biodiesel producers with the financial, feedstock sourcing and marketing resources that make renewable fuel as part of their integrated agribusinesses. We will also compete with several large and well capitalized producers of renewable diesel. We also face the prospect that petroleum refiners will be increasingly competitive with us, either by converting oil refineries to produce renewable diesel or by co-processing renewable feedstock with crude oil. Several petroleum refiners in the U.S. have effected conversions of their facilities from crude oil to renewables in the past year. Some of the largest refiners have started co-processing renewable feedstocks or have announced plans to do so. If refinery conversions accelerate or if co-processing expands significantly, the competition we face could increase significantly. We also face competition in the biomass-based diesel RIN compliance market from producers of renewable diesel and in the advanced biofuel RIN compliance market from producers of other advanced biofuels, such as Brazilian sugarcane ethanol producers and producers of biogas used in transportation.

Our renewable energy products segment operates in the LIB recycling industry, where it faces competition primarily from companies that focus on one type of recycling, some of which have more expertise in the recycling of that material than we do. We also compete against companies that have a substantial competitive advantage because of longer operating histories and larger budgets, as well as greater financial and other resources. National or global competitors could enter the market with more substantial financial and workforce resources, stronger existing customer relationships, and greater name recognition, or could choose to target medium to small companies in our markets. Competitors could focus their substantial resources on developing more efficient recovery solutions than us. Competition also places downward pressure on contract prices and profit margins, which presents significant challenges to maintaining growth rates and acceptable margins. Such factors would materially harm our operations, cash flows and profitability.

Advances in the process of converting wasted and unused natural resources could allow our competitors to produce renewable energy products faster and more efficiently and at a substantially lower cost. In addition, we will produce our renewable fuels to conform to or exceed standards established by the American Society for Testing and Materials, whose standards may be modified in response to new technologies from the industries involved with diesel fuel. New standards or production technologies may require us to make additional capital investments in, or modify, plant operations to meet these standards. We will be required to continually enhance and update our technology to maintain its efficacy and to avoid obsolescence. The costs of doing so may be substantial and may be higher than the costs that we anticipate for technology maintenance and development. If we are unable to adapt or incorporate technological advances into our operations, our production facilities could become less competitive or obsolete, or our ability to manage our business and to compete may be impaired. Further, it may be necessary for us to make significant expenditures to acquire any new technology, acquire licenses or other rights to technology and retrofit our plants in order to remain competitive. There is no assurance that we will be able to obtain such technologies, licenses or rights on favorable terms. Even if we are able to maintain technical effectiveness, our technology may not be the most efficient means of reaching our objectives, in which case we may incur higher operating costs than we would if our technology were more effective. The impact of technical shortcomings could have a material adverse effect on our prospects, business, financial condition, and results of operations. If we are unable to obtain, implement or finance new technologies, our production facilities could be less efficient, and our ability to produce biomass-based diesel on a competitive level may be harmed, negatively impacting our revenues and profitability.

We rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets in the U.S. and in select foreign countries to protect our intellectual property. Effective patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret

protection may be unavailable, limited or not obtained in some countries. Our success may depend on our ability to successfully prosecute and/or maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for our technologies. We have obtained or developed rights to patents and patent applications in the U.S. and on a case by case basis internationally, and may, in the future, seek rights from third parties to other patent applications or patented technology. There can be no assurance, however, that patents will issue from the patent applications filed or to be filed or that the scope of any claims granted in any patent will provide us with proprietary protection. If the scope of the claim granted in a patent is not sufficient to afford us with protection against competitors with similar technology, our investment in the patented technology may provide us limited or no competitive advantage. Any failure to maintain patent or other intellectual property protection on our technologies could have a material adverse effect on our operations, cash flows and financial position. We also rely in part on trade secret protection to protect our knowhow, confidential and proprietary information and processes. However, trade secrets are difficult to protect. We have taken measures to protect our trade secrets and proprietary information, but these measures may not be effective. For example, we require new employees and consultants to execute confidentiality agreements upon the commencement of their employment or consulting arrangement with us. These agreements generally require that all confidential information developed by the individual or made known to the individual by us during the course of the individual’s relationship with us be kept confidential and not disclosed to third parties. These agreements also generally provide that knowhow and inventions conceived by the individual in the course of rendering services to us are our exclusive property. Nevertheless, these agreements may be breached, expire, or may not be enforceable, and our proprietary information may be disclosed. Despite the existence of these agreements, third parties may independently develop equivalent proprietary information and techniques. It may be difficult to protect and enforce our intellectual property. Adverse judicial decision(s) in any legal action could limit our ability to assert our intellectual property rights, limit our ability to develop new products, limit the value of our technology or otherwise negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. A competitor could seek to enforce intellectual property claims against us. Defending intellectual property claims asserted against us, regardless of merit, could be time-consuming, expensive to litigate or settle, divert management resources and attention and force us to acquire intellectual property rights and licenses, which may involve substantial royalty payments. Further, a third-party claim, if successful, could secure a judgment that requires us to pay substantial damages limits our operations.

Technology requirements in our markets are constantly advancing. We must continually introduce new products that meet evolving customer needs. Our ability to grow depends on the successful development, introduction and market acceptance of new or enhanced products that address our customers’ requirements. Developing new technology is a complex and uncertain process requiring us to accurately anticipate technological and market trends and meet those trends with the right products. Additionally, this requires that we manage the transition from older products to minimize disruption in customer ordering patterns, avoid excess inventory and ensure adequate supplies of new products. Failure to develop new products, failed market acceptance of new products or problems associated with new product transitions could harm our business.

Our success will depend partially on our ability to introduce new products, services and technologies continually and on a timely basis and to continue to improve the performance, features and reliability of our products and services in response to both evolving demands of prospective customers and competitive products. There can be no assurance that any of our new or proposed products or services will maintain the market acceptance already established. Our failure to design, develop, test, market and introduce new and enhanced products, technologies and services successfully so as to achieve market acceptance could have a material adverse effect upon our business, operating results and financial condition. There can be no assurance that we will not experience difficulties that could delay or prevent the successful development, introduction or marketing of new or enhanced products and services, or that our new products and services will adequately satisfy the requirements of prospective customers and achieve significant acceptance by those customers. Because of certain market characteristics, including technological change, changing customer needs, frequent new product and service introductions and evolving industry standards, the continued introduction of new products and services is critical. Delays in the introduction of new products and services may result in customer dissatisfaction and may delay or cause a loss of revenue. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in developing new products or services or improving existing products and services that respond to technological changes or evolving industry standards. In addition, new or enhanced products and services introduced by us may contain undetected errors that require significant design modifications. This could result in a loss of customer confidence which could adversely affect the use of our products, which in turn, could have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations or financial condition.

Our research and development efforts may not lead to the successful introduction of products within the time frame that our customers demand. Our competitors may introduce new or improved products, processes or technologies that make our current or proposed products obsolete or less competitive. We may encounter delays or problems in connection with our research and development efforts. Product development delays may result from numerous factors, including:

New products often take longer to develop, may have fewer features than originally considered desirable, and have higher costs than initially estimated. There may be difficulty in sourcing components for new products and delays in starting volume production. New products may also not be commercially successful. Any of these adverse developments could harm our business and our results of operations.

There can be no assurances that demand for our future products will meet, or even approach, our expectations. In addition, our pricing and marketing strategies may not be successful. Lack of customer demand, a change in marketing strategy and changes to our pricing models could dramatically alter our financial results. Unless we are able to release products and sell services that meet a significant market demand, we will not be able to improve our financial condition or the results of our future operations.

We plan to produce complex products that may contain latent defects or performance problems. This could happen to both existing and new products. Such defects or performance problems could be detrimental to our business and reputation. In addition, customers frequently integrate products that we plan to produce with products of other vendors’ products. When problems occur in a combined environment, it may be difficult to identify the source of the problem. These problems may cause us to incur significant warranty and repair costs, divert the attention of our engineering personnel from our product development efforts, and cause significant customer relationship issues.

To date, our strategic joint venture partners have only manufactured prototypes and a limited number of products. In addition, they are continually redesigning and enhancing products and we are designing new products based on that technology that we hope to market in the near future. The manufacture and assembly of such products involves complex and precise processes, some of which are totally dependent on other companies and consultants. There is no assurance that the strategic joint venture partners will not encounter any serious problems in the production of existing or new products. Any significant problems in manufacturing, assembling or testing products could delay the sales of products and have an adverse impact on our business and prospects. The willingness of manufacturers to make the product, or lack of availability of manufacturing capacity, may have an adverse impact on the availability of products and on the ability to sell products. Manufacturing difficulties will harm the ability to compete and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition, and may hinder our ability to grow our business as we expect.

Our operations and timelines may be affected by global economic markets and levels of consumer comfort and spend, including recessions, slow economic growth, economic and pricing instability, increase of interest rates and credit market volatility, all of which could impact demand in the worldwide transportation industries or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Because the impact of current conditions on an ongoing basis is yet largely unknown, rapidly evolving, and varied across geographic regions, an ongoing assessment will be particularly critical to allow us to accurately project supply and demand and infrastructure requirements globally and allocate resources accordingly. If current global market conditions continue or worsen, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

The occurrence of one or more natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, unusually adverse weather, epidemic or pandemic outbreaks, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, boycotts and geopolitical events, such as civil unrest and acts of terrorism, or similar disruptions could materially adversely affect our business, power supply, results of operations or financial condition. These events could result in physical damage to property, an increase in energy prices, temporary or permanent closure of one or more of our planned facilities, temporary lack of an adequate workforce in a market, temporary or long-term disruption in the supply of raw materials, construction delays at our planned facilities, temporary disruption in transport from overseas, or disruption to our information systems. We may incur expenses or delays relating to such events outside of its control, which could have a material adverse impact on its business, operating results and financial condition.

Our short-term plans include the sale of non-strategic and other investments and assets. The success of these plans depends on the market prices and demand for the purchase of such investments and assets. We may not be able to generate sufficient funds from the sale of these investments and assets to pay off our indebtedness or offset our other liquidity needs. Our ability to sell one or more of our investments or assets in response to changing economic, financial and investment conditions may be limited. We cannot predict whether we will be able to sell any of our investments or assets for the price or terms set by us, or whether any price or other terms offered by a prospective buyer would be acceptable to us.

We also cannot predict the length of time needed to find a willing buyer and to the close the sale of an investments or assets. The applicable markets are affected by many factors that are beyond our control. The nature of our properties, including our held-for-sale properties, may make it difficult for us to sell or develop those properties and could require considerable, additional capital to adapt the properties for sale or other productive uses, and could negatively affect our financial performance, including as a result of the following factors:

The construction and operation of potential future projects and various exploration projects will require significant funding. Our operating cash flow and other sources of funding may become insufficient to meet all of these requirements, depending on the timing and costs of development of these and other projects. As a result, new sources of capital may be needed to meet the funding requirements of these investments and fund our ongoing business activities. Our ability to raise and service significant new sources of capital will be a function of macroeconomic conditions, future commodity and other market prices, our operational performance and our current cash flow and debt position, among other factors. In the event of lower commodity and other market prices, unanticipated operating or financial challenges, or a further dislocation in the financial markets as experienced in recent years, our ability to pursue new business opportunities, invest in existing and new projects, fund our ongoing operations, and retire or service all of our outstanding debt could be significantly constrained.

Provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or changes in our management. These provisions include the following:

In addition, because we are incorporated in Nevada, we are governed by Nevada Revised Statutes 78.411 to 78.444, inclusive. These provisions may also have an effect of delaying or making it more difficult to effect a change in control of us. A corporation affected by these provisions may not engage in a combination within two years after the interested stockholder acquires his, her or its shares unless the combination or purchase is approved by the board of directors before the interested stockholder acquired such shares. Generally, if approval is not obtained, then after the expiration of the two-year period, the business combination may be consummated with the approval of the board of directors before the person became an interested stockholder or a majority of the voting power held by disinterested stockholders, or if the consideration to be received per share by disinterested stockholders is at least equal to the highest of: (i) the highest price per share paid by the interested stockholder within the three years immediately preceding the date of the announcement of the combination or within three years immediately before, or in, the transaction in which he, she or it became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher; (ii) the market value per share on the date of announcement of the combination or the date the person became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher; or (iii) if higher for the holders of preferred stock, the highest liquidation value of the preferred stock, if any. Generally, these provisions define an “interested stockholder” as a person who is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of a corporation, and define “combination” to include any merger or consolidation with an interested stockholder, or any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition, in one transaction or a series of transactions with an interested stockholder of assets of the corporation: (i) having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the assets of the corporation; (ii) having an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the corporation; or (iii) representing 10% or more of the earning power or net income of the corporation.. These provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws and under Nevada law could discourage potential takeover attempts and could reduce the price that investors might be willing to pay for shares of our common stock in the future and result in our market price being lower than it would without these provisions.

LEGAL, REGULATORY AND COMPLIANCE RISKS

Our operations are subject to strict environmental regulations, which could result in additional costs and operational delays. All phases of our operations are subject to environmental regulation. Environmental legislation is evolving in the United States generally, and Nevada specifically, in a manner that may require stricter standards and enforcement, increased fines and penalties for non-compliance, more stringent environmental assessments of proposed projects, and a heightened degree of responsibility for companies and their officers, directors, and employees. There is no assurance that any future changes in environmental regulation will not negatively affect our projects. At the state level, mining operations in Nevada are regulated by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection ("NDEP"). Nevada state law requires our Nevada projects to hold Nevada water pollution control permits, which dictate operating controls and closure and post-closure requirements directed at protecting surface and ground water. In addition, we are required to hold Nevada reclamation permits required under Nevada law. These permits mandate concurrent and post-mining reclamation of mines and require the posting of reclamation bonds sufficient to guarantee the cost of mine reclamation. Other Nevada regulations govern operating and design standards for the construction and operation of any source of air contamination and landfill operations. Any changes to these laws and

regulations could have a negative impact on our financial performance and results of operations by, for example, requiring changes to operating constraints, technical criteria, fees or surety requirements.

The industries in which we operate are subject to extensive federal, state and local laws and regulations, and we could be held strictly liable for the removal or remediation of previously released materials or property contamination regardless of whether we were responsible for the release or contamination, and regardless of whether current or prior operations were conducted consistent with the accepted standards of practice. In addition, we will be subject to similar laws and regulations in Europe and Canada for the renewable energy products we sell there. Compliance with these laws, regulations and obligations could require substantial capital expenditures. Changes in environmental laws and regulations occur frequently, and changes resulting in more stringent or costly waste handling, storage, transport, disposal or cleanup requirements could require us to make significant expenditures to attain and maintain compliance. Climate change continues to attract considerable attention globally. Numerous proposals have been made and could continue to be made at the international, national, regional, state and local levels of government to monitor and limit existing emissions of GHGs as well as to restrict or eliminate future emissions. As a result, our operations are subject to a series of regulatory, litigation and financial risks associated with the production and transportation of biofuel products and emission of GHGs. The potential effects of GHG emission limits on our business are subject to significant uncertainties based on, among other things, the timing of the implementation of any new requirements, the required levels of emission reductions, and the nature of any market-based or tax-based mechanisms adopted to facilitate reductions. Compliance with changes in laws and regulations relating to climate change could increase our costs of operating and could require us to make significant financial expenditures that cannot be predicted with certainty at this time. We are subject to various laws and regulations including RFS II, BTC, LCFS, and other jurisdictions. These regulations are highly complex and continuously evolving, requiring us to periodically update our systems to maintain compliance, which could require significant expenditures. In 2014, the EPA issued a final rule to establish a quality assurance program and the EPA also implemented regulations related to the generation and sale of RINs. Any violation of these regulations by us, could result in significant fines and harm our customers’ confidence in the RINs we issue, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We do not possess all of the governmental approvals necessary to conduct the full extent of the operations contemplated by our strategic plan. Those operations will be delayed, hindered or prevented to the extent that we are unable to obtain the necessary permits and approvals in a timely fashion or at all. This inability may occur due to a variety of factors, including opposition by third parties, such as members of the public or environmental groups. We expect that future permit and approval applications and issuances will meet with similar opposition. We may encounter delays and added costs if permits and approvals are challenged.

Closure and reclamation work to return operating sites to the community can be extensive and costly. Estimated costs are provided for, and updated annually, over the life of each operation, but the provisions might prove to be inadequate due to changes in legislation, standards and the emergence of new, or increases in the cost of, reclamation techniques. In addition, the expected timing of expenditure could change significantly due to changes in the business environment that might vary the life of an operation. Our insurance and surety bonds against environmental risks are limited as to the maximum protection against potential liability for pollution or other hazards as a result of the disposal of waste products occurring from exploration and production. Further, there is no assurance that insurance carriers or surety bond providers will be able to meet their obligations under our arrangements with them. In the event that our environmental liabilities and costs exceed the coverage provided by our insurance carriers and surety bond providers, or such parties are unable to meet their obligations, we would have limited funds available to us to remedy such liabilities or costs, or for future operations. If we are unable to fund the cost of remedying an environmental problem, we also might be required to enter into an interim compliance measure pending completion of the required remedy.

Mining companies must post a bond or other surety to guarantee the cost of post-mining reclamation. These requirements could add significant additional cost and delays to any mining project undertaken by us. Our mineral exploration operations are required to be covered by reclamation bonds deemed adequate by regulators to cover these risks. BLM requires that mining operations on lands subject to its regulation obtain an approved plan of operations subject to environmental impact evaluation under the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA"). Any submission or significant modification to a plan of operations may also require the completion of an environmental assessment or Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") prior to approval.

Our business is an energy-intensive undertaking, resulting in a significant carbon footprint. A number of governments or governmental bodies have introduced or are contemplating regulatory changes in response to the potential impacts of climate change that are viewed as the result of emissions from the combustion of carbon-based fuels. Legislation and increased regulation and requirements regarding climate change could impose increased costs on us and our suppliers, including increased energy, capital equipment, environmental monitoring and reporting and other costs to comply with such regulations. Until the timing, scope and extent of any future requirements becomes known, we cannot predict the effect on our financial condition, financial position, results of operations and ability to compete.

Substantially all of our land holdings are within the Carson River Mercury Superfund Site ("CRMS") Study Area and portions are within the risk area boundaries identified by NDEP and the United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). These risk areas have been defined due to the known or suspected presence of certain contaminants of concern, including mercury, arsenic and lead. To comply with the agencies’ requirements in these areas, the Company conducts soil sampling pursuant to a plan that has been approved by NDEP. This sampling is intended to demonstrate the absence of contamination before mining, processing or other operations in that area. If contamination above agency-established levels of concern is encountered, the Company intends to excavate and process such materials for metals recovery wherever feasible. If metals recovery is not feasible, the Company may avoid or defer excavating in that area, remove the materials for disposal, or cover the area with clean fill material. Through this sampling program and, if necessary, removal of contaminated materials, the Company intends to enable NDEP and EPA to better define the CRMS and the currently designated risk areas so as to eventually exclude our land holdings from such areas and from the Site itself to the maximum extent feasible. NDEP and EPA are continuing to study the ecological and human health risks that may be presented by contaminated sediments in certain portions of the Carson River watershed and downstream areas. The agencies’ studies indicate that these contaminants are primarily associated with historic mining tailings that have been redistributed into these waterways. The agencies have not adopted a remedial plan for these sediments nor have they decided whether remediation will be undertaken. Thus, there is no assurance that the Company will not be asked to undertake additional investigatory or remediation activities or to pay for such activities by the agencies, or that future changes in CRMS-related requirements will not negatively affect our operations.

We may be subject to legal proceedings. Due to the nature of our business, we may be subject to a variety of regulatory investigations, claims, lawsuits and other proceedings in the ordinary course of our business. The results of these legal proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty due to the uncertainty inherent in litigation, including the effects of discovery of new evidence or advancement of new legal theories, the difficulty of predicting decisions of judges, and juries and the possibility that decisions may be reversed on appeal. There can be no assurances that these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our business.

There may be challenges to our title in the properties in which we hold material interests. If there are title defects with respect to any of our properties, we might be required to compensate other persons or perhaps reduce our interest in the affected property.

The validity of unpatented mineral claims, which constitute most of our holdings in the United States, is often uncertain and may be contested by the federal government and other parties. The validity of an unpatented mineral claim, in terms of both its location and its maintenance, depends on strict compliance with a complex body of federal and state, statutory and decisional law. Although we have attempted to acquire satisfactory title to our properties, we have not obtained title opinions or title insurance with respect to the acquisition of the unpatented mineral claims. The investigation and resolution of title issues would divert management’s time from ongoing exploration programs.

As a result of public concern about the real or perceived detrimental effects of economic globalization and global climate impacts, businesses generally, and corporations in natural resource industries, face increasing public scrutiny of their activities. These businesses are under pressure to demonstrate that, as they seek to generate satisfactory returns on investment to shareholders, other stakeholders, including employees, governments, and communities surrounding operations benefit and will continue to benefit from their commercial activities. Such pressures tend to be particularly focused on companies for which activities are perceived to have a high impact on their social and physical environment. The potential consequences of these pressures include reputational damage, legal suits, increasing social investment obligations and pressure to increase taxes and royalties payable to governments and communities.

RISKS RELATED TO INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMON STOCK

The market price of our common shares is subject to volatility, has fluctuated, and may continue to fluctuate significantly due to, among other things, changes in market sentiment regarding our operations, financial results or business prospects, the mining, metals, recycling or environmental remediation industries generally, coordinated trading activities, large derivative positions or the macroeconomic outlook. The price of our common stock has been, and may continue to be, highly volatile in response to our recent transactions. Certain events or changes in the market or our industries generally are beyond our control. In addition to the other risk factors contained or incorporated by reference herein, factors that could impact our trading price include:

Our stock has historically been a penny stock. Rule 3a51-1 generally defines “penny stock” to be any equity security that has a market price (as defined) less than $5.00 per share or an exercise price of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions. When our securities are covered by the penny stock rules, additional sales practice requirements are imposed on broker-dealers that sell to persons other than established customers and “accredited investors.” The term “accredited investor” refers generally to institutions with assets in excess of $5,000,000 or individuals with a net worth in excess of $1,000,000 (excluding one’s primary residence), or annual income exceeding $200,000 individually or $300,000 jointly with their spouse. The penny stock rules (including Rule 15g-9) require a broker-dealer, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from the rules, to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document in a form prepared by the SEC, which provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer also must provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson in the transaction, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information, must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to effecting the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation. In addition, the penny stock rules require that, prior to a transaction in a penny stock not otherwise exempt from these rules, the broker-dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. These disclosure requirements may have the effect of reducing the level of trading activity in the secondary market for the stock that is subject to these penny stock rules. Consequently, these penny stock rules may affect the ability of broker-dealers to trade our securities. We believe that the penny stock rules discourage investor interest in and limit the marketability of our common stock. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA") sales practice requirements may also limit a stockbroker’s ability to buy or sell our stock. In addition to the “penny stock” rules promulgated by the SEC, FINRA has adopted rules that require that in recommending an investment to a customer, a broker-dealer must have reasonable grounds for believing that the investment is suitable for that customer. Prior to recommending speculative low priced securities to their non-institutional customers, broker-dealers must make reasonable efforts to obtain information about the customer’s financial status, tax status, investment objectives, and other information. Under interpretation of these rules, FINRA believes that there is a high probability that speculative low priced securities will not be suitable for at least some customers. The FINRA requirements make it more difficult for broker-dealers to recommend that their customers buy our common stock, which may limit your ability to buy or sell our stock and have an adverse effect on the market for our shares.

The trading market for our common stock will depend in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. We have relatively little research coverage by securities and industry analysts. If no additional industry analysts commence coverage of the Company, the trading price for our common stock could be negatively impacted. If one or more of the analysts who cover us downgrades our common stock, or publishes inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts cease coverage of us or fail to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our common stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price and trading volume to decline.

Our common stock is traded on the NYSE American. To maintain our listing on the NYSE American, we must meet certain financial and liquidity criteria. The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be subject to significant fluctuation as a result of periodic variations in our revenues and results of operations. If we fail to meet any of the NYSE American’s listing standards, we may be delisted. In the event of delisting, trading of our common stock would most likely be conducted in the over the counter market on an electronic bulletin board established for unlisted securities, which could have a material adverse effect on the market liquidity and value of our common stock.

We currently expect to retain all available funds and future earnings, if any, for use in the operation and growth of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board, subject to compliance with applicable law, our organizational documents and any contractual provisions, including under agreements for indebtedness we may incur, that restrict or limit our ability to pay dividends, and will depend upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, earnings, capital requirements and other factors that our board deems relevant. Investors seeking cash dividends in the foreseeable future should not purchase our common stock.

We are currently authorized to issue 158,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 71,207,832 shares were issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021, and 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which no Preferred Shares are outstanding at the December 31, 2021. To maintain its capital at desired levels or to fund future growth, the board may decide from time to time to issue additional shares of common stock, or securities convertible into, exchangeable for or representing rights to acquire shares of common stock. In February 2021, the Company has also entered into an equity purchase agreement with Leviston Resources LLC relating to the offer and potential sale of up to $5,000,000 of common stock. The term of the agreement is 24 months. The sale of these securities may significantly dilute stockholders’ ownership interest and the market price of the common stock. New investors in other equity securities issued by the Company in the future may also have rights, preferences and privileges senior to, that may adversely impact, the Company’s current stockholders. On March 2, 2021, the Company entered into equity purchase agreements with certain investors to issue and sell $4,000,000 shares of common stock at a price of $4.00 per share for proceeds of approximately $15,000,000. The offering of the shares closed on March 4, 2021.

RISKS RELATED TO STRATEGIC TRANSACTIONS

We have made, and could make in the future, investments in other companies, including privately-held companies in a development stage, and most recently Quantum Generative Materials LLC, a company that plans to use quantum computer algorithms for development of new materials. Many of these equity investments in private companies are inherently risky because the companies’ businesses may never develop, and we may incur losses related to these investments.

The price of our common stock has been, and may continue to be, highly volatile in response to various investments. In addition, we may be required to write down the carrying value of these investments to reflect other-than-temporary declines in their value, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations. Acquisitions of other companies or new properties, divestitures, business combinations or other transactions with other companies may create additional, material risks for our business that could cause our results to differ materially and adversely from our expected or projected results.

Such risk factors include the effects of possible disruption to the exploration activities and mine planning, loss of value associated with our properties, mismanagement of project development, additional risk and liability, indemnification obligations, sales of assets at unfavorable prices, failure to sell non-core assets at all, poor execution of the plans for such transactions, permit requirements, debt incurred or capital stock issued to enter into such transactions, the impact of any such transactions on our financial results, negative stakeholder reaction to any such transaction and our ability to successfully integrate an acquired company’s operations with our operations. If the purchase price of any acquired businesses exceeds the current fair values of the net tangible assets of such acquired businesses, we would be required to record material amounts of goodwill or other intangible assets, which could result in significant impairment and amortization expense in future periods. These charges, in addition to the results of operations of such acquired businesses and potential restructuring costs associated with an acquisition, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We cannot forecast the number, timing or size of future transactions, or the effect that any such transactions might have on our operating or financial results. Furthermore, potential transactions, whether or not consummated, will divert our management’s attention and may require considerable cash outlays at the expense of our existing operations. In addition, to complete future

transactions, we may issue equity securities, incur debt, assume contingent liabilities or have amortization expenses and write-downs of acquired assets, which could adversely affect our profitability.

We have grown our business, in part, through strategic alliances and acquisitions, including through our shift to climate-smart mining and related development projects with partners that include Mercury Clean Up, LLC for the deployment of new metals extraction, LINICO Corporation for lithium-ion battery metal recycling and Renewable Process Solutions, Inc. for the extraction of lithium and the development and commercialization of next generation technologies to reduce the carbon footprint. We continually evaluate and explore strategic opportunities as they arise, including product, technology, business or asset transactions. Such undertakings may not be successful or may take a substantially longer period than initially expected to become successful, and we may never recover our investments or achieve desired synergies or economies from these undertakings. This notwithstanding, we may in the future continue to seek to grow our operations in part by entering into joint ventures, or undertaking investments, joint projects or other strategic alliances with third parties in diversified precious and strategic metals production, renewable processing of natural resources, recycling and quantum computing. These activities involve challenges and risks in negotiation, execution, valuation and integration, and closing of the transactions could be delayed or prevented by regulatory approval requirements, including permitting issues, or other conditions. Any current or future agreements that we may enter into also could expose us to new operational, regulatory, market, litigation and geographical risks as well as risks associated with significant capital requirements, the diversion of management and financial resources, unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures, sharing of proprietary information, loss of control over day-to-day operations, non-performance by a counterparty, potential competition and conflicts of interest. In addition, we may not be successful in finding suitable targets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. Even if successfully negotiated and closed, expected synergies from a joint venture, investment or other strategic alliance may not materialize, may not advance our business strategy, may fall short of expected return-on-investment targets or may not prove successful or effective for our business. We may also encounter difficulty integrating the operations, personnel and financial and operating systems of an acquired business into our current business. Given the specialized nature of our quantum computing strategic partners, we may not succeed in attracting and retaining specialized technical support including quantum computing programming and material science competencies or maintaining access to the specialized scientific resources and infrastructures we require to continue to integrate, develop and grow our business. Our growth may be limited by insufficient financial resources and competition in the developing industries in which we invest. We may need to raise additional debt funding or sell additional equity securities to enter into such joint ventures or make such acquisitions. However, we may not be able to obtain such debt funding or sell equity securities on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. The raising of additional debt funding by us, if required and available, would result in increased debt service obligations and could result in additional operating and financing covenants, or liens on our assets, that would restrict our operations. The sale of additional equity securities, if required and available, could result in dilution to our stockholders.

We have limited capabilities for new product development and manufacturing and do not yet have any capability for sales, marketing or distribution. For some of our program and product development candidates, we may not be able to attract or retain qualified computational material engineers, software engineers, photocatalysis experts, quantum chemists, quantum information scientists, quantum physicists, including but not limited to condensed matter physicists, mathematical physicists and computational physicists and/or third-party quantum computing companies for the development and potential commercialization of our products and solutions. The competition for strategic partners and quantum professionals is intense. Our ability to reach a definitive agreement for collaboration will depend, among other things, upon our assessment of the strategic partner’s resources and expertise, the terms and conditions of the proposed collaboration and the proposed strategic partner’s evaluation of a number of factors. These factors may include the likelihood of approval by regulatory authorities, the potential market for the subject product candidate, the costs and complexities of manufacturing and delivering such product candidate to customers, the potential of competing products, the existence of uncertainty with respect to our ownership of technology, which can exist if there is a challenge to such ownership without regard to the merits of the challenge, and industry and market conditions generally. The strategic partner may also consider alternative product candidates or technologies for similar indications that may be available for collaboration and whether such collaboration could be more attractive than the one with us for our product candidate. Strategic partnerships are complex and time-consuming to negotiate and document. Even if we are successful in entering into collaboration, the terms and conditions of that collaboration may restrict us from entering into future agreements with other potential collaborators. If we are unable to reach agreements with suitable strategic partners on a timely basis, on acceptable terms, or at all, we may have to curtail the development of a product candidate, reduce or delay one

or more of our other development programs, delay its potential commercialization or reduce the scope of any sales or marketing activities, or increase our expenditures and undertake development or commercialization activities at our own expense. If we elect to fund and undertake development or commercialization activities on our own, we may need to obtain additional expertise and additional capital, which may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. If we fail to enter into strategic partnerships and do not have sufficient funds or expertise to undertake the necessary development and commercialization activities, we may not be able to further develop our product candidates or bring them to market or continue to develop our therapeutic platforms and our business may be materially and adversely affected. Any collaboration may be on terms that are not optimal for us, and we may not be able to maintain any new collaboration if, for example, development or approval of a product candidate is delayed, sales of an approved product candidate do not meet expectations or the partner terminates the collaboration. Any such collaboration, or other strategic transaction, may require us to incur non-recurring or other charges, and increase our near- and long-term expenditures and pose significant integration or implementation challenges or disrupt our management or business. Accordingly, although there can be no assurance that we will undertake or successfully complete any transactions of the nature described above, any transactions that we do complete may be subject to the foregoing or other risks and have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects. Conversely, any failure to enter any collaboration or other strategic transaction that would be beneficial to us could delay the development and potential commercialization of our product candidates and have a negative impact on the competitiveness of any product candidate that reaches the market.

Existing and future strategic partnerships that we may enter into pose a number of risks, including the following:

At December 31, 2021, Tonogold owes the Company $6,650,000 pursuant to its note receivable with the Company. Further, the Company’s $910,558 in common stock investments in Tonogold at that date, could materially diminish if Tonogold is unsuccessful in profitably producing precious metals, or otherwise. Tonogold (and therefore the Company by extension) is susceptible to all of the same business risks that apply to the Company relating to financial, operational, lack of reserves/economic feasibility, regulatory and other matters set forth in this “Risk Factors” section. Tonogold’s failure to profitably produce precious metals could have a material adverse effect on any residual value of the Company in Comstock Mining LLC, including, but not limited to, future lease payments and royalty payments, indemnification of reclamation liabilities and assumed Northern Comstock LLC obligations, and payment of other obligations under Tonogold's agreement with the Company. In addition, Tonogold’s management of the Lucerne may involve risks not otherwise present in wholly-owned projects, including the following:

We have invested capital and have otherwise been involved in various mineral properties and renewable metals projects in the Storey and Lyon Counties, Nevada, where we have not conducted sufficient exploration, development and/or engineering studies to minimize the risk of project failure. Our mineral projects involve high risks because we have not invested sufficiently in the characterization of mineralized material, geologic analysis, metallurgical testing, mine planning and economic analysis. Standard industry practice calls for a mining company to prepare a formal mine plan and mining production schedule and have these documents reviewed and validated by a third-party specialist. We have not had a formal mine plan and mining production schedule economically validated by a third-party specialist.

The revenues and profits of an enterprise involved in the creation of new industries and markets are generally dependent upon many variables. Our customer appeal depends upon factors which cannot be reliably ascertained in advance and over which we have no control, such as unpredictable customer needs and competitive products. As with any new business enterprise operating in a specialized and intensely competitive market, we are subject to many business risks which include, but are not limited to, unforeseen marketing difficulties, excessive research and development expenses, unsuccessful development projects, including those for new materials, an inability to successfully harness a general adversarial neural network (“GANN”) and apply the GANN effectively in simulating existing materials, generating new materials and/or commercialize them profitably, unforeseen negative publicity, competition, product liability issues, manufacturing and logistical difficulties, and lack of operating

experience. Many of the risks may be unforeseeable or beyond our control. There can be no assurance that we or our strategic joint venture partners will successfully implement our business plan in a timely or effective manner, that we will be able to generate sufficient interest in our products, or that we will be able to market and sell enough products and services to generate sufficient revenues to continue as a going concern.

There can be no assurances that consumer or commercial demand for our future products will meet, or even approach, our expectations. In addition, our pricing and marketing strategies may not be successful. Lack of customer demand, a change in marketing strategy and changes to our pricing models could dramatically alter our financial results. Unless we are able to release products and sell services that meet a significant market demand, we will not be able to improve our financial condition or the results of our future operations.

The success of our strategic partnerships in the quantum computing industry and the subsequent use of quantum intellectual property in the mining, batteries and carbon capture and utilization fields of use will depend in part on our ability to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. Other entities may have or obtain patents or proprietary rights that could limit our ability to make, use, sell, or offer for sale our future approved products or impair our competitive position. Our research, development and commercialization activities with regard to quantum intellectual property for mining, batteries, and carbon capture and utilization applications may be subject to claims that we infringe or otherwise violate patents or other intellectual property rights owned or controlled by third parties. Patents that we may ultimately be found to infringe could be issued to third parties. Third parties may have or obtain valid and enforceable patents or proprietary rights that could block us from developing quantum intellectual property for mining, batteries, and carbon capture applications. If our intellectual property usage was to be found to infringe any such patents, and we were unable to invalidate those patents, or if licenses for them are not available on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially harmed. Furthermore, even if a license is available, it may be non-exclusive, which could result in our competitors gaining access to the same intellectual property. Our failure to maintain a license to any technology that we require may also materially harm our business, financial condition and results of operations, and we would be exposed to a threat of litigation. Our success may be harmed by potential uncertainty with respect to our ownership of technology, which can exist if there is a challenge to such ownership without regard to the merits of the challenge, and industry and market conditions generally. If we are unable to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and trade secret protection for quantum intellectual property for mining, batteries, and carbon capture applications and related technology, our business could be materially harmed. Additionally, our intellectual property rights or proprietary information may be jeopardized or invalidated if strategic partners do not properly maintain and defend such information. Conflicts with our strategic partners over proprietary rights, ownership of intellectual property, contract interpretation or the preferred course of development, might cause delays or termination of the research, development or commercialization of new developments, or might result in litigation or arbitration, any of which would be time-consuming and expensive.

Some of our strategic partnerships and future development of products include or will include third-party intellectual property, which may require licenses for our use. We believe that such licenses can be obtained on reasonable terms; however, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain or maintain the necessary licenses for new or current products on acceptable terms or at all. Our failure to obtain or maintain such licenses may limit our ability to develop materials, meet the goals of our strategic partnerships, or grow our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and financial results. The quantum computing industry is quickly developing, and as such, is and will remain dynamic and competitive for the foreseeable future. As this industry continues to grow and mature, there may be an influx of new products, technological advances, and new concepts that can dramatically transform the industry and our business. There is a broad variety of entities that are known to be engaged in research and development relating to quantum computing, which range in size from diversified global companies with significant research and development resources to smaller privately funded startups whose narrower product focuses may let them be more effective in deploying resources towards a specific industry demand. We believe competition in this market segment will intensify. Our success in the market segment will depend on our ability to deploy our quantum intellectual property effectively and profitably into mining, battery or carbon capture fields of use. Our

competitors could use their financial, technical, product development and marketing resources to market or develop products or services that are more effective or less costly than any or all of our products or services. Our ability to evolve, and adapt rapidly over an extended period of time will be critical in remaining competitive.

We currently rely upon third parties to provide certain information technology, quantum computing systems and infrastructure, and other storage and connectivity on internal or “cloud-based” platforms. Any of these systems and infrastructure are vulnerable to damage or interruption from earthquakes, vandalism, sabotage, terrorist attacks, floods, fires, power outages, telecommunications failures, and computer viruses or other deliberate attempts to harm the systems. The occurrence of a natural or intentional disaster, any decision to close a facility we are using without adequate notice, or particularly an unanticipated problem at a cloud-based virtual server facility, could result in harmful interruptions in our service, resulting in adverse effects to our business. The failure of any of these third parties to provide accurate and timely service may adversely impact our business operations. In addition, if such third-party service providers were to cease operations, temporarily or permanently, face financial distress or other business disruption, increase their fees or if our relationships with these providers deteriorate, we could suffer increased costs until an equivalent provider could be found, if at all, or we could develop internal capabilities, if ever. In addition, if we are unsuccessful in choosing or finding high-quality partners, if we fail to negotiate cost-effective relationships with them, or if we ineffectively manage these relationships, it could have an adverse impact on our business and financial performance.

GENERAL RISK FACTORS

Our officers and employees are important to our success. If any of them becomes unable or unwilling to continue in their respective positions, and we are unable to find suitable replacements, our business and financial results could be materially negatively affected. The loss of the services of one or more of our key personnel could have a material adverse effect on our operating results. Our future success depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly skilled personnel, including personnel with advanced manufacturing expertise, quantum physicists, chemists, and data and material engineers, necessary to develop our business and grow our strategic partnerships. Given the scarcity of professionals with the scientific knowledge that we require and the competition for qualified personnel, we may not succeed in attracting or retaining the personnel we require to meet the goals of our strategic partnerships or our operations. In addition, there could be a material adverse effect on us should the turnover rates for engineers and other key personnel increase significantly or if we are unable to continue to attract qualified personnel.

Cybersecurity incidents are increasing in frequency, evolving in nature and include, but are not limited to, installation of malicious software, unauthorized access to data, and other electronic security breaches that could lead to disruptions in systems, unauthorized release of confidential or otherwise protected information and the corruption of data. We believe that we have implemented appropriate measures to mitigate potential risks. However, given the unpredictability of the timing, nature and scope of information technology disruptions, we could be subject to manipulation or improper use of our systems and networks or financial losses from remedial actions, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

The Company may be forced to later write down or write off assets, restructure its operations, or incur impairment or other charges that could result in losses. Unexpected risks may arise and previously known risks may materialize. Even though these charges may be non-cash items and not have an immediate impact on the Company’s liquidity, the fact that it may report charges of this nature could contribute to negative market perceptions about the Company or its securities. In addition, charges of this nature may cause the Company to be unable to obtain future financing on favorable terms or at all.

The mining industry has limited industry-specific accounting literature and, as a result, we understand diversity in practice exists in the interpretation and application of accounting literature to mining-specific issues. As diversity in mining industry accounting is addressed, we may need to restate our reported results if the resulting interpretations differ from our current accounting practices. See Note 1, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our strategic plan is focused on high-value, cash-generating, precious metal-based activities, including, but not limited to, environmentally friendly and economically enhancing clean mining and processing technologies, precious-metal exploration, resource development, economic feasibility assessments and cash-generating mineral production. Many of the factors that impact our ability to execute our strategic plan, such as the advancement of certain technologies, legal and regulatory obstacles and general economic conditions, are beyond our control. Changes in value or a lack of demand for the sale of non-core assets would negatively affect the Company’s financial condition and performance. Our inability to identify successful joint venture candidates and to complete joint ventures or strategic alliances as planned or to realize expected synergies and strategic benefits could impact our financial condition and performance. Our inability to deploy capital to maximize shareholder value could impact our financial performance. We cannot give assurance that we will be able to execute any or all of our strategic plan. Failure to execute any or all of our strategic plan could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Our outstanding indebtedness and lease payment obligations, and the covenants contained in our debt agreements and documents governing such obligations could have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition. The size and terms of certain of our agreements limits our ability to obtain additional debt financing to fund future working capital, acquisitions, capital expenditures, engineering and product development costs, and other general corporate requirements. Other consequences for our operations could include:

Our ability to make required payments of principal and interest on our debt will depend on our future performance and the other cash requirements of our business. Our performance is subject to general economic, political, financial, competitive, and other factors that are beyond our control in addition to challenges that are unique to the Company. We cannot provide any assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available in an amount sufficient to enable us to service our indebtedness and lease obligations.

Our debt and lease agreements contain certain restrictive covenants and customary events of default. These restrictive covenants limit our ability to take certain actions, such as, among other things: make restricted payments; incur additional debt and issue certain preferred stock; create liens; engage in mergers or consolidations or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; make certain dispositions and transfers of assets; place limitations on the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to make distributions; enter into transactions with affiliates; and guarantee indebtedness. One or more of these restrictive covenants may limit our ability to execute our preferred business strategy, take advantage of business opportunities, or react to changing industry conditions.

Upon an event of default, if not waived by our financing parties, our financing parties may declare all amounts outstanding as due and payable, which may cause cross-defaults under our other obligations. If our current financing parties accelerate the maturity of our indebtedness or obligations, we may not have sufficient capital available at that time to pay the amounts due to our financing parties on a timely basis, and there is no guarantee that we would be able to repay, refinance, or restructure the payments on such debt and lease obligations. Further, the financing parties would have the right to foreclose on certain of our assets, which could have a material adverse effect on our Company.

ITEM 2        DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTIES

 

PILOT FACILITY

Comstock Innovations Corporation (“Comstock Innovations”), our wholly-owned technology research and development subsidiary, is subject to an asset purchase agreement with American Science and Technology Corporation (“AST”), pursuant to which Comstock Innovations agreed to purchase substantially all of the real and personal property located at 6445 Packer Drive, Wausau, Wisconsin 54401 (“Pilot Facility”), including pilot scale processing equipment used in connection with some of our cellulosic fuels and electrification metals extraction and refining processes. The purchase agreement calls for a purchase price of $3,920,000 in installments of $35,000 per month from May 1, 2022 to April 30, 2023, $1,750,000 on April 30, 2023, and $1,750,000 on April 30, 2024. The costs associated with the Pilot Facility’s research and development support operations are allocated on a time and materials basis at cost to our renewable energy products segment and strategic and all other segments, as applicable.

BATTERY RECYCLING FACILITY

COMSTOCK MINERAL ESTATE

We have consolidated the most significant portions of the historic Comstock mining district, amassed the single largest known repository of historical and current geological data on the Comstock region, secured permits, built an infrastructure and completed two phases of test production. Comstock and its subsidiaries own, control, or retain interest in all of these mineral properties. Our mineral estate consists of 9,358 acres located in Storey and Lyon Counties, Nevada, all at or just south of Virginia City, Nevada (referred to collectively herein as the “Comstock Mineral Estate”), including 2,396 acres of patented claims and surface parcels, approximately 6,962 acres of unpatented claims administered by the BLM, five mineral leases, one joint venture (providing exclusive rights to exploration, development, mining and production), royalty interests, and fee ownership of real property, including 126 patented and 392 unpatented mineral lode claims, as well as 39 unpatented placer claims.

Because of the Comstock Mineral Estate’s historical significance, the geology is well known and has been extensively studied. We have expanded our understanding of the geology through vigorous surface mapping and drill hole logging. The volume of geologic data is immense, particularly in the Lucerne and Dayton resource areas. We have accumulated a large library of historical data and detailed surface mapping of Comstock Mineral Estate properties and continue to obtain historical information from public and private sources. We integrate this data with information obtained from our mining operations to target prospective geological exploration areas and plan exploratory drilling programs, including expanded surface and underground drilling.

We have completed extensive geological mapping, sampling and drilling on a limited portion of the Comstock Mineral Estate property, particularly the Lucerne and Dayton resource areas, in order to characterize the mineralized material. We have performed metallurgical testing, mine planning and economic analysis, and have produced internal reports of our mineralized material inventory. We conducted extensive test mining operations from 2004 through 2006 and 2012 through 2016. However, we have not established reserves that meet the requirements of SEC Regulation S-K Subpart 1300 ("S-K 1300"). Therefore, we are an exploration stage issuer and our Comstock Mineral Estate properties are all exploration stage properties.

We have identified many exploration targets in the Comstock Mineral Estate and, to date, have focused on subsets of our mineral estate, including the Dayton-Spring Valley, Lucerne, Occidental, and Gold Hill resource areas and exploration targets (collectively, our “Exploration Targets”). We own or control 100% of the Dayton-Spring Valley Exploration Target and have developed updated exploration plans for these targets and are completing a third-party, S-K 1300 technical report. We are developing exploration plans for our remaining areas. Operating activities in connection with the Lucerne, Occidental and Gold Hill Exploration Targets include collaboration and leasing arrangements with Tonogold Resources, Inc. ("Tonogold"), which bought the Lucerne Exploration Target and related permits from us on September 8, 2020, with a view towards continued exploration and development toward economic feasibility for Lucerne and the other targets. Tonogold is in the final stages of completing a third-party, S-K 1300 technical report.

OTHER PROPERTY

We hold an investment in Sierra Springs Opportunity Fund, Inc. (“SSOF”), a qualified opportunity zone fund, which wholly-owns a qualified opportunity zone business, Sierra Springs Enterprises, Inc. ("SSE"). We expect to own 9% of SSOF upon issuance by SSOF of all 75,000,000 authorized shares to investors. At December 31, 2021, we own 11.9% of the voting shares of SSOF and SSOF has received approximately $12,000,000 in equity from investors, including $335,000 from the Company and $525,000 (16.0% of voting shares) from our officers and directors. Our chief executive officer is president and a director of SSOF and an executive and a director of SSE. On September 26, 2019, and as later amended, we entered into agreements with SSE to sell our two Silver Springs properties ("Silver Springs Properties"). The agreements include the sale of 98 acres of industrial land and senior water rights for $6,500,000 and 160 acres of commercial land along with its rights in the membership interests of Downtown Silver Springs LLC for $3,600,000. At December 31, 2021, we have received deposits in cash and escrow from SSE totaling $400,000 towards the purchase of the Silver Springs Properties, recorded in deposits under current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. The transactions are expected to close during the first half of 2022. For the year ended December 31, 2021, we also advanced SSOF $3,285,000, increasing total advances to $4,935,000, for use by SSOF for deposits and payments on land and other related qualifying investments and activities in the opportunity zone. The advances are non-interest-bearing and are expected to be repaid on or before the expected sale of our properties to SSE during 2022.

ITEM 3        LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company’s mining and exploration activities are subject to various laws and regulations governing environmental protection. These laws and regulations are frequently changing and generally becoming more restrictive. The Company believes its operations are in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, in all material respects. The Company continuously makes expenditures to comply with such laws and regulations, but cannot predict the full amount of such future expenditures.

On January 31, 2014, the Comstock Residents Association (“CRA”) and two of its members filed a civil action in the Third Judicial District Court in Lyon County, Nevada (“District Court”) against the Lyon County Board of Commissioners (the “Commissioners”) and the Company, asking the District Court to reverse the Commissioners’ decision to grant a master plan amendment and zone changes that were approved by the Commissioners in 2014 (“Application”). Prior to the approval of the Application, the master plan designation and zoning precluded mining on certain property of the Company in the area of Silver City, Nevada. On January 11, 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court issued a final order affirming the District Court's judgment in favor of Lyon County and Comstock Mining. On January 29, 2021, the CRA filed a Petition for Rehearing to the Nevada Supreme Court. On February 25, 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court issued an order denying a rehearing. On March 8, 2021, the CRA filed a Petition for En Banc Reconsideration to the Nevada Supreme Court. On April 9, 2021, the Nevada Supreme Court responded to the petition by issuing an order denying en banc reconsideration, once again, in favor of Lyon County and Comstock Mining. On July 30, 2021 Judge Estes of the Third Judicial District Court in Lyon County, Nevada ruled in favor of Lyon County and Comstock Mining and awarded attorney fees and costs to be paid by the plaintiffs in the sum of $50,000 to Lyon County and $203,151 to Comstock Mining. On August 27, 2021 the CRA filed a notice of appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court.

On or about February 27, 2020, we received notice that three former employees had filed a complaint with OSHA regarding alleged wrongful termination of employment in 2019, seeking backpay, front pay, compensatory damages, interest, legal fees and other costs. On September 8, 2021, OSHA notified the three former employees that it was dismissing their complaint after OSHA was informed that the former employees were instead planning to file a complaint in federal court. On August 20, 2021, the former employees filed a lawsuit against the Company, its Board of Directors, its Audit and Finance Committee, its Chief Executive Officer and certain of its managers for wrongful employment termination. We believe those terminations were lawful and we are vigorously defending the complaint. At December 31, 2021 and 2020, we have accrued severance and related costs in connection with this lawsuit, which is recorded in accrued expenses and other liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.

From time to time, we are involved in claims, investigations and proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of business. There are no matters pending that we expect to have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

ITEM 4.     MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and Item 104 of Regulation S-K, we are required to disclose items believed to be violations of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, any health and safety standard, or any regulation, as administered by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. We did not have any violations or variations from the aforementioned standards. The required information is also included in Exhibit 95 to this report.

PART II

ITEM 5        MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER

COMMON STOCK

SALE OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

The Company sold 1,000,000 shares of unregistered securities at a price of $1.40 per common shares, for net proceeds of $1.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company did not sell any unregistered securities during 2020.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

DIVIDEND POLICY

We have never declared or paid any dividends on our common stock. We do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. We currently intend to retain future earnings, if any, to finance operations and expand our business. Any future decision to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements and other relevant factors.

ITEM 6        SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

ITEM 7        MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Our objective is to generate over $16 billion in revenue on an annualized basis by 2030, by responsibly producing and selling renewable energy products that enable us, our clients, and their downstream stakeholders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100 million metric tons per year. Meeting that objective would offset the equivalent of more than 234 million barrels per year of fossil fuel, or about 6% of the U.S. transportation burn.

We expect to use our technologies to meet our 2030 objectives with less than just 8% of the biomass residues produced annually in the U.S., however, we have structured our business to achieve and enable exponentially greater gains. We believe that the Earth’s natural carbon cycle provides the simplest, fastest, most scalable and most practical path for enabling systemic decarbonization and achieving a net zero carbon world. Our strategic plan is consequently based on innovating and using our technologies and renewable energy products to simultaneously:

Comstock historically focused on natural resource exploration, development, and production, with an emphasis on mining gold and silver resources from its extensive contiguous property holdings in the historic Comstock and Silver City mining districts in Nevada (collectively, the “Comstock Mineral Estate”). Between 2012 and 2016, we mined and processed about 2.6 million tons of mineralized material from the Comstock Mineral Estate, producing 59,515 ounces of gold and 735,252 ounces of silver. We subsequently focused on mineral exploration and development activities in anticipation of continued production, while

evaluating and exploiting opportunities for the monetization of selected assets, debt elimination, new investments, and diversification.

SUMMARY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Below we set forth a summary of comparative financial information for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:

COMPONENTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENSES

Our revenues are primarily derived from the sale of supporting engineering and related services and other returns generated by our investments. Our costs of sales primarily include allocable labor, materials and incidental expenses incurred in connection with our provision of services. Selling, general and administrative expenses consist of payroll, office expenses, insurance and professional fees for marketing, selling, legal, consulting, accounting and investor relations activities. Payroll, including employee compensation, and benefits, are the largest single category of expenditures in selling, general and administrative expenses. Other income (expense) includes interest income, interest expenses, income or expenses relating equity gains or losses in affiliates, impairment losses of goodwill and intangible assets, change in fair value of derivative assets and notes receivable, gain (loss) on investments and other non-operating items.

Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased to $862,165 from $201,700 for 2020, as a result of higher engineering services revenue, attributable to our 2021 acquisition of Comstock Engineering.

Costs of sales for the year ended December 31, 2021, increased to $272,082 as compared to $51,890 for 2020, primarily resulting from costs associated with engineering sales that were not incurred in 2020.

Gross profit correspondingly increased to $590,083 for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to $149,810 for 2020, with substantially all of the increase attributable to higher engineering service sales.

Selling, general and administrative expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased to $5,546,767 from $4,401,633 for 2020, as a result of higher employee costs related to new employees from acquisitions, stock-based compensation related to 2021 grants and higher professional fees related to our recent acquisitions. Revenue, costs of sales, gross profit, and selling, general and administrative expenses in future periods will vary significantly depending on a number of factor, including the amount of renewable energy products that we produce an sell, the market prices for those products, the extent to which we secure and collect reasonable royalties, the degree to which we can provide event=driven engineering services, and the costs associated with each component of the aforementioned revenues.

During 2021, the Company recorded a loss on investments of $2,244,951, as compared to a gain on investments in 2020 of $3,152,702. The 2021 loss was primarily due to an increase of $2,286,867 in the fair value of Tonogold common shares and a realized gain of $66,821 in Tonogold common shares sold, offset in part by a decrease in the market value of other securities.

During 2020, the Company recorded a gain of $18,275,846 from the sale of membership interest in Comstock Mining, LLC, the entity that owns the Lucerne mine, the related reclamation liability, and permits. There was no comparable transaction in 2021.

The change in fair value of our derivative instruments increased by $13,583,784, consisting primarily of $13,155,946 in 2021 losses from changes in the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities related to new investments and acquisitions, primarily those associated with potential make whole obligations for minimum value commitments on the Company’s common shares, including $6,660,000 for Quantum Generative Materials LLC ("GenMat"), $6,300,000 for LP Biosciences LLC ("LPB"), $2,743,162 from the LINICO purchase from the former founder, somewhat offset by $2,049,966 in gains from changes in fair value associated with similar make whole obligation from the original LINICO purchase. The increase from 2020, was also attributable to $427,838 in 2020 gains, primarily from $403,179 in fair value changes in the MCU derivatives.

For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded $6,394,610 for the impairment of goodwill and other intangibles associated with the full impairment the MANA intangible asset related to the termination of the LP Biosciences contract during the first quarter 2022, consisting of $6,163,846 associated with the goodwill impairment and $230,764 associated with other intangibles impairment. There were no comparable impairments during 2020.

Other expenses, net, for the year ended December 31, 2021, were $2,979,363, primarily consisting of $1,076,258 in expenses associated with our withdrawal from the LP Biosciences transaction, $2,049,070 of losses from equity method investments including $1,282,336 from LINICO, $675,713 from GenMat, $718,500 of other losses from valuation and impairment losses on notes receivable, and, $168,881in interest expense, which amounts were partially offset by $437,699 of other income, primarily consisting of amendment fees from Tonogold.

Other expenses, net for the year ended December 31, 2020 were $2,267,829, primarily consisted of a $2,544,000 loss related to fair value adjustments to the Tonogold preferred shares and losses from the change in fair value of the Tonogold note receivable of $642,997, which amounts were partially offset by other gains of $261,170 for PPP loan forgiveness, $234,944 in reimbursements of acquisition costs and $425,185 of other income, net, from sales of mining claims, settlement of amounts due to vendors, and other expenses.

Interest income increased by $544,266 for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to 2020, primarily due to an increase in the average Tonogold outstanding note receivable principal balance from 2021, and an increase in the average interest rate, due to an increase from the stated 12% rate to the 18% default rate since September 2021.

Interest expense decreased by $253,006 for the year ended December 31, 2021, as compared to 2020, primarily due to lower average debt outstanding, including the early retirement of prior debt obligations in March 2021, which amounts were partially offset by a higher interest rate and discounts on the Promissory Notes.

Deferred income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $5,748,105, resulting from temporary differences between our accounting and tax treatment associated with our recent acquisitions.

There were no comparable deferred income tax benefits in 2020.

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2021, was $24,583,620 as compared to net income of $14,931,970 for the year ended

December 31, 2020. The decrease of $39,515,590 was primarily the result of the gain of $18,275,846 on the sale of Comstock Mining LLC, and other gains on investments of $3,152,702 during 2020, that did not recur in 2021, coupled with the 2021 other expenses of $2,979,363, changes in fair value of derivative instruments of $13,155,946, and losses on investments of $2,244,951, which amounts were partially offset deferred tax benefits of $5,748,105, and to a lesser extent, higher interest income.

 LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Our financial position and liquidity is based on our ability to generate cash flows from our operations, as well as our net sources of capital from financing as generally compared to our net uses of capital from investing activities. Our cash balances at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 were $5,912,188 and $2,431,944, respectively. The Company had current assets of $13,828,989 and current liabilities of $23,909,510, representing working capital deficit of $10,080,521 at December 31, 2021.

Our primary source of liquidity during 2021 was cash from financing activities. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we used $7,492,402 in cash in our operating activities and $16,097,485 in our investing activities, and we generated $27,070,131 in cash from our financing activities. During the year ended December 31, 2020, we used $3,764,575 in cash in our operating activities, and we sourced $3,207,696 from our investing activities and $1,972,966 from our financing activities. During 2021, 9,220,123 common shares were issued through equity issuance and private placement agreements, at an average price per share of $2.97 corresponding to net proceeds of $26,335,500, net of cash issuance fees of $1,064,498. During 2020, 5,747,608 common shares were issued through equity issuance and private placement agreements at an average price per share of $0.73 and net proceeds of $4,067,552, net of cash issuance fees of $130,186.

We intend to fund our operations over the next twelve months from existing cash and cash equivalents, planned sales and profits from our cellulosic technology and related engineering services, planned sales of strategic and other investments, including our existing non-mining assets and investments in Tonogold and previously funded capital into our LINICO subsidiary. Based on these expected funding sources, management believes we will have sufficient funds to sustain our operations and meet our commitments under our investment agreements during the 12 months following the date of issuance of the condensed consolidated financial statements included herein. While we have been successful in the past in obtaining the necessary capital to support our operations, including registered equity financings from our existing shelf registration statement, borrowings and various other means, there is no assurance we will be able to obtain additional equity capital or other financing, if needed.

Net cash used in operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $3,727,827 from 2020 primarily from increases in operating costs, decreased cash reimbursements, partially offset by increased revenue, and net uses of cash for working capital.

Net cash used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $19,305,181 from the comparable year ended 2020 primarily due to $13,320,537 for cash payments incurred in connection with our acquisitions and investments as well as $3,285,000 in advances to SSOF during 2021, as compared to $6,700,929 of proceeds from investing activities in 2020, primarily from the sales and collections on Tonogold securities as well as $1,650,000 in advances to SSOF.

Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2021 increased by $25,097,165 from 2020, primarily from a net increase in proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $22,267,949 during 2021 as compared to 2020, plus a change of $3,076,354 resulting from increased debt in 2021, as compared to a net use of cash from debt reductions in 2021.

Risks to our liquidity could result from future operating expenditures above management’s expectations, including but not limited to exploration, pre-development, research and development, selling, general and administrative, and investment related expenditures in excess of planned proceeds from the sale of Tonogold securities, repayment of the Note and advances to SSOF and sale of the Silver Springs Properties, amounts to be raised from the issuance of equity under our existing shelf registration statement, declines in the market value of properties held for sale, or declines in the share price of our common stock would adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. If we were unable to obtain any necessary additional funds, this could have an immediate material adverse effect on liquidity and raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. In such case, we could be required to limit or discontinue certain business plans, activities or operations, reduce or delay certain capital expenditures or investments, or sell certain assets or businesses. There can be no assurance that we would be able to take any such actions on favorable terms, in a timely manner, or at all.

OUTLOOK

We will rapidly achieve exponential growth and extraordinary financial, natural, and social gains by building, owning, and operating a fleet of advanced carbon neutral extraction and refining facilities, by selling an array of complimentary process solutions and related services, and by licensing selected technologies to qualified strategic partners

Our goal is to generate over $16 billion in revenue on an annualized basis by 2030, by producing and selling renewable energy products that enable us, our clients, and their downstream stakeholders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 100 million metric tons per year. Meeting that objective would offset more than 234 million barrels per year of fossil fuel, or about 6% of the U.S. transportation burn, and require an estimated 8% of the existing biomass residues produced annually in the U.S.

Such scales are achievable by leveraging existing external fuel infrastructure. Our expanded team has extensive experience in the renewable fuels industry, having designed and built several dozen renewable fuel production facilities in the U.S. We have already made remarkable progress. We are currently building commercial pilot scale cellulosic fuels and LIB facilities, and we are preparing to commence operations at our full-scale LIB recycling facility later this year. We have also made significant strides in developing and establishing our new facilities and forging new revenue and licensing streams that we will soon share.

We have also made meaningful progress and will complete the monetization of our non-strategic assets, as quickly as possible, while funding our new businesses and limiting our outlook and focus to the objectives outlined above.

The Company’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled for May 26, 2022, where we plan presenting a more detailed outlook of our business plans, schedules, and near-term revenues and showcasing our renewable energy businesses.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

The SEC has requested that all registrants address their most critical accounting policies. The SEC has indicated that a “critical accounting policy” is one which is both important to the representation of the registrant’s financial condition and results and requires management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. We base our estimates on past experience and on various other assumptions our management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results will differ, and may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Additionally, changes in accounting estimates could occur in the future from period to period. Our management has discussed the development and selection of our most critical financial estimates with the Audit and Finance Committee of our Board of Directors. The following paragraphs identify our most critical accounting policies:

 

Management determines the fair value of a financial instrument based on the amount that could be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value

is calculated based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, not on assumptions specific to the entity. In addition, the fair value of liabilities includes consideration of non-performance risk, including the party’s own credit risk.

The Company applies the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations to all acquisitions where the Company gains a controlling interest, regardless of whether consideration was exchanged. With respect to business combinations, the Company (a) recognizes and measures the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree; (b) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and, (c) discloses the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Accounting for acquisitions requires us to recognize, separately from goodwill, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at their acquisition-date fair values. Goodwill as of the acquisition date is measured as the excess of the fair value of consideration transferred and the net acquisition-date fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. While the Company uses our best estimates and assumptions to accurately value assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date, the estimates inherently are uncertain and subject to refinement. As a result, during the measurement period, which may be up to one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets, including intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed with corresponding offsets to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or final determination of the values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to our consolidated statements of operations. Deferred tax liabilities (“DTLs”) created in business combinations for the difference between the historical carryover basis of assets for tax purposes and the stepped-up fair value basis for book purposes are recognized as an increase to goodwill.

All transactions in which goods or services are received for the issuance of shares of our common stock or options to purchase shares of our common stock are accounted for based on the fair value of the equity interest issued. The fair value of shares of common stock is determined based upon the closing price per share of our common stock on the date of issuance and other applicable inputs. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation for common stock grants evenly over the related vesting period. The fair value of market condition performance share awards is determined based on path-dependent valuation techniques and inputs including the closing price per share of our common stock at date of grant, volatility and the risk-free interest rate. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation for market condition performance share awards evenly over the derived service period resulting from the path-dependent valuation. The fair value of performance condition share awards is determined based on the closing price per share of our common stock at date of grant and the probability of achieving the performance condition during the term of the award agreement. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation for performance condition share awards evenly over the term of the award agreement. The Company recognizes forfeitures of unvested common stock, performance shares and stock option grants as they occur.

The Company assesses its mineral rights and properties, plant and equipment for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Such indicators include changes in the Company’s business plans, changes in precious metal prices and significant downward revisions of estimated mineralization quantities. If the carrying value of an asset exceeds the future undiscounted cash flows expected from the asset, an impairment charge is recorded for the excess of carrying value of the asset over its estimated fair value. Determination as to whether and how much an asset is impaired involves management estimates on highly uncertain matters such as future commodity prices, the effects of inflation and technology improvements on operating expenses, and the outlook for global or regional demand conditions for gold and silver. However, the impairment reviews and calculations are based on assumptions that are consistent with the Company’s business plans and long-term investment decisions. Management does not believe there are impairments present in mineral rights and properties, plant, and equipment.

At the end of each reporting period, management considers whether impairment indicators exist to evaluate if a debt investment security or loan is impaired and, if so, record an impairment loss .

At the end of each reporting period, management reassesses whether an equity investment security without a readily determinable fair value qualifies to be measured at cost less impairment, consider whether impairment indicators exist to evaluate if an equity investment security is impaired and, if so, record an impairment loss.

Management reviews purchased intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. We review indefinite-lived intangibles for impairment annually and more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the asset is impaired. We measure recoverability of these assets by comparing the carrying amounts to the future undiscounted cash flows that the assets or asset group are

expected to generate. If the carrying value of the assets or asset group are not recoverable, impairment is measured and recorded as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value.

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis, and on an interim basis if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. Management performs its annual goodwill impairment tests at December 31.

 

Reclamation costs are allocated to expense over the life of the related assets and are periodically adjusted to reflect changes in the estimated present value resulting from the passage of time and revisions to the estimates of either the timing or amount of the reclamation and remediation costs. Reclamation obligations are based on when the spending for an existing environmental disturbance will occur. We review, on at least an annual basis, the reclamation obligation at each mine site in accordance with guidance for accounting for asset retirement obligations. Reclamation obligations for inactive mines are accrued based on management’s best estimate of the costs expected to be incurred at a site. Such cost estimates include, where applicable, ongoing care, maintenance and monitoring costs. Changes in estimates at inactive mines are reflected in earnings in the period an estimate is revised. Accounting for reclamation and remediation obligations requires management to make estimates unique to each mining operation of the future costs we will incur to complete the reclamation and remediation work required to comply with existing laws and regulations. Actual costs incurred in future periods could differ from amounts estimated. Additionally, future changes to environmental laws and regulations could increase the extent of reclamation and remediation work required. Any such increases in future costs could materially impact the amounts charged to earnings for reclamation and remediation.

Our income tax expense and deferred tax assets and liabilities reflect management’s best assessment of estimated future taxes to be paid. Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax and financial statement recognition of revenue and expense. In evaluating our ability to recover our deferred tax assets, we consider all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations. In projecting future taxable income, we develop assumptions including the amount of future state, federal and foreign pretax operating income, the reversal of temporary differences, and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. These assumptions require significant judgment about the forecasts of future taxable income and are consistent with the plans and estimates that we are using to manage the underlying businesses. Valuation allowances are recorded as reserves against net deferred tax assets by the Company when it is determined that net deferred tax assets are not likely to be realized in the foreseeable future. The calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized.

ITEM 7A    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Changes in the market price of commodities, including precious metals, critical metals and oil and gas may significantly affect our profitability and cash flow. Metal prices fluctuate widely due to factors such as: demand, global mine production levels, supply chain constraints, investor sentiment, central bank reserves, global conflicts and the value of the U.S. dollar.

The interest rates on our existing long-term debt borrowings are fixed and as a result, interest due on borrowings are not impacted by changes in market-based interest rates.

ITEM 8        FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Comstock Mining Inc. (“the Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of changes in stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The Company had various business combinations and an asset acquisition transaction in 2021. The purchase price associated with these transactions was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, in each case based on estimates of their respective fair values at the acquisition dates. Assets acquired included developed technology intangible assets totaling approximately $18.3 million. In addition, consideration paid in certain of the acquisitions included shares of the Company’s common stock that contained provisions restricting the holder’s ability to transfer or sell the shares for a period of time. Such shares had an estimated fair value on the acquisition dates totaling approximately $31.0 million.

Fair values of the developed technologies and restricted shares were estimated by the Company with the assistance of its third-party specialists. Management exercised significant judgment to select the valuation methods; to select appropriate inputs and

metrics; and to develop assumptions used in the measurement of the fair value. Certain assumptions were forward-looking and could be affected by future economic and market conditions.

We identified the assessment of the acquisition-date fair value of developed technologies and restricted stock as a critical audit matter. The principal considerations for our determination included the use of the following: (i) significant assumptions, (ii) significant unobservable inputs, and (iii) the use of valuation models. Auditing these elements involved especially subjective auditor judgment due to the nature and extent of audit effort required to address these matters, including the extent of specialized skill or knowledge needed. The revenue growth rates and the discount rate used to determine the fair value of the developed technologies were challenging to evaluate as there was limited observable market information and minor changes to those assumptions could have a significant effect on the acquisition-date fair value of the intangible asset.

We performed to following to address the critical audit matter:

/s/Assure CPA, LLC

Spokane, Washington

March 28, 2022

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2020.

COMSTOCK MINING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020

COMSTOCK MINING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020

COMSTOCK MINING INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020