Navigating the Complex Landscape of Energy Storage Permitting

A U.S. judge in D.C. court has ruled that construction can resume on Revolution Wind while it challenges the federal administration's the construction pause and lease suspension issued on December 22, 2025. The ruling cited the ‘arbitrary and capricious’ nature of the recent action because the agencies failed to explain why a full suspension was necessary or acknowledge the reliant interests of states and developers who have invested billions and executed a power purchase agreement to deliver much-needed power to the region. The Administration referenced undisclosed "national security concerns" that arose from a recent classified Department of War study alleging that turbine structures cause interference with military radar systems.   

Revolution Wind, which is currently 87% complete, is set to provide 704 MW of power generation to Connecticut and Rhode Island, and has sparked investments in Louisiana and New England shipyards, purchased export cables from a South Carolina factory, and spurred a steel supply chain that crosses New York and created hundreds of unions jobs in Providence, Rhode Island. Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind-Commercial, Empire Wind 1, Sunrise Wind, and Vineyard Wind 1 are still subject to the construction pause and lease suspension. 

In response, Oceantic Network has released the following statement from CEO Liz Burdock:  

“Revolution Wind is critical to securing New England's electric grid, lowering energy costs for businesses and families, strengthening the local supply chain, and achieving energy independence. Today’s court ruling safeguards Americans from the crisis of rising energy demand and costs and ensures the U.S. can compete on a global stage for the digital evolution. The U.S. offshore wind industry has always worked closely with the federal government to ensure national security interests were prioritized in the siting and permitting of every project in federal waters. Oceantic applauds this result to get the project moving again to deliver reliable, affordable power to communities across New England that desperately need it.” 

There are significant economic consequences associated with pausing the construction of the five U.S. projects:  

• Once operational, the five projects are expected to bring 5.8 GW of much-needed power generation online, enough for 2.5 million homes, and to help the states keep rising power costs in check.   

• Stopping these projects means $30 billion of fully permitted economic activity has been paused and threatens more than $11 billion in supply chain assets that have spun up to support construction.    

• Stopping these projects threatens at least 12,000 American jobs directly supporting their buildout.   

• Construction of these projects has sparked more than 1,000 supply chain contracts to 675 unique American businesses across 41 states, spanning domestic shipyards, upgraded ports, and a massive resurgence in American steel. More than 24% are coming from Gulf suppliers.    

• Building and maintaining these projects has initiated at least 40 new vessel orders or specialized retrofits, totaling nearly $2 billion in steel and shipyard activity.  

This latest ruling follows recent industry court victories against the administration’s attempts to slow down offshore wind. In December, a federal judge vacated the Administration's previous permitting pause, ruling it unlawful. Earlier in September, a judge ordered an injunction against the administration’s Stop Work order against Revolution Wind, finding it unsubstantiated.  

Oceantic Network | https://oceantic.org/

Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) and Comstock Metals LLC (“Comstock Metals”), a leader in the responsible recycling of end-of-life solar panels with the only certified, North American, zero-landfill solution, announced that it has secured its California-based facility dedicated to serving its California customer base, the largest single U.S. market. This first satellite storage and prepping facility is strategically located in the heart of the Central Valley of California. The facility represents a critical hub for the responsible collection, preparation and aggregation of decommissioned photovoltaic (PV) panels for ultimate closed-loop recycling in its fully permitted recycling facility in Nevada.

As solar energy adoption continues to grow across the western United States, the need for compliant and environmentally responsible end-of-life solutions is critical. Comstock Metals’ California facility is designed to directly support solar developers, utilities, installers, and asset owners by providing a centralized location for the safe handling, consolidation, and logistics coordination of retired solar panels.

Comstock Metals’ California facility can now optimize network logistics and costs for the western U.S. and:

• Enable direct support for solar asset owners, developers, EPCs, and installers; 
• Enhance our ability to rapidly and fully respond to customer needs;
• Facilitate decommissioning efforts by providing a “local” base from which to operate;
• Centralize collection points for end-of-life solar panels in California; and
• Coordinate all handling, storage, and logistics coordination compliantly.

By enabling reliable, efficient, and compliant interstate transport and recycling, Comstock Metals helps reduce landfill disposal, conserve natural resources, and support the long-term sustainability of the solar industry.

“Our goal is to help close the loop on solar energy by ensuring that panels at the end of their useful life are managed responsibly and the critical minerals and materials are repurposed for productive use,” said Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. “This facility allows us to directly support California’s clean energy leadership while ensuring materials are transported efficiently to our specialized recycling operations in Nevada.”

The new facility in California accepts end-of-life and decommissioned solar panels from commercial, utility-scale, and other approved sources. Panels received at the site are prepared and optimized for transportation and shipped in accordance with all applicable state and federal regulations to Comstock Metals’ certified recycling facilities in Nevada, where critical materials such as aluminum, silver, copper, gallium, and other metals can be repurposed.

“Comstock Metals is setting the global standard in solar panel recycling by creating a scalable, reliable, efficient, and optimized network of decommissioning, collecting, aggregating, storing and full-recovery processing (and ultimately refining) nodes designed and built for speed and scale,” said Corrado De Gasperis, Executive Chairman and CEO of Comstock. “Most of the industry is still getting their heads around the magnitude of inevitable end of life panels, measured in the tens of millions and then hundreds of millions, and growing, and our demonstrated ability to scale and meet those volumes delivers true sustainability and peace of mind to our customers.”

Comstock I www.comstock.inc

Aspen Power, a leading distributed generation platform backed by Carlyle and dedicated to building the clean energy future, announced the successful closing of a $200 million capital raise provided by Deutsche Bank. The new capital commitment will bolster Aspen Power’s financial capacity and support growth initiatives across development, vendor engagement, and project deployment as it scales its platform nationwide.

The financing positions Aspen Power to respond quickly to increasing demand for clean energy solutions, enabling expansion of its project pipeline, including community solar, commercial & industrial solar, small utility scale and storage offerings.

“This financing represents an important milestone for Aspen Power and reflects the strength and maturity of the platform we have built,” said Jorge Vargas, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Aspen Power. “Aspen has consistently earned the trust of leading financial institutions by deploying capital with discipline and executing reliably across a growing national portfolio. We are pleased to welcome Deutsche Bank as a partner alongside other leading financial institutions, and we believe this commitment further strengthens our ability to originate, develop, and deliver high-quality distributed solar and storage projects at scale.”

“Deutsche Bank recognizes the growing demand for distributed clean energy and the related need for flexible development capital,” said Jeremy Eisman, Head of Infrastructure and Energy Financing, Deutsche Bank. “We believe Aspen Power’s strategy and execution are well-aligned with the transition to a low-carbon future, and we are proud to join Carlyle in supporting Aspen’s next phase of growth and development.”

“Earning the support of an institution like Deutsche Bank speaks to the rigor of Aspen Power’s financial framework and execution capabilities,” said Bill DeLong, Chief Financial Officer, Aspen Power. “This capital enhances our ability to manage growth thoughtfully, partner effectively with vendors, and deliver projects that meet the expectations of our investors and lenders.”

“Aspen Power has built a strong, resilient, and well-capitalized platform positioned to meet growing demand for distributed solar and storage nationwide,” said Saurabh Anand, Managing Director, Carlyle. “Over the past several years, the company has demonstrated disciplined growth, rigorous market selection, and consistent execution across an expanding national footprint. We are pleased to welcome Deutsche Bank as a partner as Aspen enters its next phase of expansion, and we believe this additional scale will strengthen the company’s ability to deliver high-quality projects."

Aspen Power’s business model combining origination, development, construction, and asset ownership, is designed to deliver sustainable, cost-effective clean energy at scale. The new capital commitment enhances the company’s flexibility to execute on its pipeline, bring additional vendors on board, and accelerate project delivery for customers across multiple verticals.

Solar continues to expand as one of the fastest-growing U.S. energy sectors, driven by declining costs, improving storage options, and strong demand from communities and commercial customers. Over the past year, Aspen Power has added new projects across New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, strengthening its presence in core markets. With this new capital, Aspen is positioned to broaden access to clean energy for customers nationwide.

Aspen Power | aspenpower.com

Deutsche Bank | https://www.db.com/

Amprius Technologies, Inc. (“Amprius” or the “Company”) (NYSE: AMPX), a leader in next-generation lithium-ion batteries with its Silicon Anode Platform, announced it has completed all sales under its at-the-market (“ATM”) equity offering program.

Under the program, originally established on October 2, 2023, the Company was authorized to offer and sell shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $100.0 million. The Company issued an aggregate of 25.5 million shares of Common Stock under the program, resulting in aggregate net proceeds to the Company of approximately $97.5 million.

During the three months ended December 31, 2025, the Company sold shares of Common Stock resulting in aggregate net proceeds of approximately $19.6 million at an average price of $11.17 per share. These sales completed and in effect terminated the program. As of December 31, 2025, the Company’s unaudited cash and cash equivalents were approximately $91.9 million.

For further information, please see the Company's current report on Form 8-K to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 12, 2026.

Amprius Technologies | amprius.com 

ACK for Whales, the Nantucket non-partisan grassroots environmental group, and two local businessmen have sued the federal government for violating federal law in allowing Vineyard Wind to build offshore wind turbines that destroy the environment, harm endangered whales and other marine life, destroy historic viewsheds and dramatically drive up the costs of electricity.

The suit, filed Friday in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges the Biden Department of Interior (Interior) and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) violated the Offshore Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the Administrative Procedures Act (APA) when they approved the Records of Decision and Construction and Operations Plan necessary for Vineyard Wind to build the Vineyard Wind 1 project off Nantucket, by ignoring the disruptive effects the turbines have on civil aviation and national defenses, imperiling safety.

The suit also alleges BOEM continues to violate the law by allowing Vineyard Wind to continue to operate. The unlawfully granted approvals should be invalidated until the Federal Government complies with the relevant statutes and regulations, the suit says.

“They were in such a rush to achieve their political goals, they didn’t care what corners they cut, the threat to our national defense or personal flying safety, or how high our electric bills would go,” said ACK4Whales President Vallorie Oliver. “This was politics at its worst.”

“Those turbine towers have pushed me out of waters where I caught fish and lobsters for decades,” said Danny Pronk, a Nantucket lobsterman. “The turbines are killing my business.”

William Vanderhoop, a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, has run a whale watching and charter fishing business, Tomahawk Charters, for decades. Vanderhoop said his business has been devastated by the turbines. “The Biden Administration chose a big, foreign-owned wind company, Vineyard Wind, over local businessmen, hurt my business and jacked up our electric rates in the process,” he said, “all in the name of a big green lie.”

“Interior and BOEM ignored clear evidence developed by a sister agency, the federal Department of Energy, among others, that showed that the turbines would disrupt national defense and civil aviation remedies,” Thomas Stavola Jr. Esq., plaintiffs’ counsel said. “That violates the law. After Interior instructed BOEM to reevaluate Vineyard Wind, it failed to do so. That also violates the law. These approvals should be invalidated immediately.”

The Energy Department has known since at least 2011 that wind turbines interfere with radar systems and formed a working group to solve that problem. It has not yet achieved a solution, and the threats to civil aviation and national defense radars persist, as acknowledged by a 2025 GAO report. A 2024 DOE report confirmed radar interference issues, noting mitigation (such as increasing radar sensitivity) might cause missed targets. A 2022 National Academies Report confirmed significant electromagnetic reflectivity of turbines and their impact on radar. In addition, a 2020 BOEM study acknowledged the problem: “The presence of wind energy installation is known to impact radar systems.”

ACK for Whales | https://ack4whales.org/

Motive Energy announced that its Sustainable Solutions division has been selected by Curtin Maritime to design and deliver the primary charging and energy infrastructure supporting Curtin Maritime's future fleet of electric tugboats at the Port of Los Angeles as previously announced. The project represents one of the first large-scale, purpose-built charging deployments in the United States for commercial marine operations.

Charging operations will be supported by four 1-megawatt high-capacity charging systems (MCS) designed specifically to support the demanding duty cycles, fast-turnaround needs, and multiport charging requirements of electric tugboat operations. The chargers are engineered to deliver high-voltage DC output and to accommodate marine cable-handling systems suitable for waterfront environments. Their configuration supports simultaneous charging ports per vessel, enabling consistent daily operations for Curtin Maritime's fleet.

At the center of the system is a 10-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) designed to optimize energy availability, reduce peak grid demand, and enhance operational resilience. The full system will be delivered on a barge-based platform connected to new onshore utility service, with transformers, switchgear, and power-conversion equipment engineered and integrated by Motive Energy to meet rigorous marine-operations requirements. Planned solar resources—pending review and approvals by the Port of Los Angeles—are intended to further reduce lifetime emissions and support long-term sustainability goals.

"We are honored to partner with Curtin Maritime as they advance the next generation of environmentally sustainable marine operations," said Bob Istwan, Chief Executive Officer, Motive Energy. "Ports across the country are seeking viable pathways to reduce carbon emissions, and this project demonstrates the role that advanced energy infrastructure will play in enabling that transition."

"This deployment shows what it takes to keep electric tugboats running in real-time port conditions," said Jeffrey Rome, AIA, Executive Vice President at Motive Energy. "It's more than installing chargers; it's building systems that deliver reliable power, day after day, without disrupting operations. That's what happens when operators and infrastructure providers design together from the start."

Curtin Maritime emphasized the importance of the new charging platform in supporting its operational strategy. "This infrastructure is central to our investment in a cleaner and more efficient tugboat fleet," commented Martin Curtin, CEO of Curtin Maritime. "Motive Energy's engineering approach provides the performance, reliability, and adaptability required for continuous marine operations at the Port of Los Angeles."

The project complements regional efforts to advance clean maritime technologies and establish scalable models for zero-emission port operations. Additional milestones are expected in the coming months, pending final engineering review and stakeholder approvals.

Motive Energy Sustainable Solutions | motiveenergy.com/divisions/sustainable-solutions/

Curtin Maritime | curtinmaritime.com

Cherry Street Energy, the Southeast's leading provider of distributed power generation, announced the acquisition of 16 operating distributed generation projects from Inman Solar, marking a significant milestone in its long-term growth strategy. The deal reinforces Cherry Street's position as a leading owner and operator of renewable power assets across the Southeast.

With this acquisition, Cherry Street adds 12.7 megawatts (MW) of capacity across Georgia, Florida, Washington D.C., South Carolina, and Michigan. It includes 7.3 MW (DC) in Georgia with an average contract tenure of over 20 years, and 5.4 MW across other states with an average tenure of 15 years. The projects deliver an annual baseline production of 20,073 MWh, which further strengthens Cherry Street's position and capabilities in the markets it serves.

Most of the acquired projects are in Georgia, where Cherry Street is based. Their energy and renewable attributes are sold to Georgia Power as part of the utility's Georgia Public Service Commission approved solar programs.

The acquisition diversifies Cherry Street's revenue streams with utility off-take agreements while leveraging the company's operational expertise in managing solar assets. This positions Cherry Street to pursue a broader range of opportunities as the Southeast's distributed and utility-scale renewable markets continue to evolve and grow.

"As a power company, Cherry Street continues to focus on building long-term value through the ownership and operation of power generation assets," said Michael Chanin, Founder & CEO of Cherry Street Energy. "Importantly, these sites present excellent opportunities for future battery storage integration, which will enhance their value to the grid and support the continued economic development across the Southeast."

Cherry Street identified the portfolio's potential for battery storage integration as a key value driver in the acquisition. The company plans to evaluate co-locating energy storage systems at these sites, which would allow the projects to provide dispatchable renewable power and grid services—increasing their value while supporting grid reliability as renewable penetration grows across the region.

The transaction proved mutually beneficial: Inman Solar is exiting asset ownership to focus on its core business of EPC services and development, while Cherry Street is expanding its portfolio of long-term generating assets. The acquisition follows several other strategic investments by Cherry Street in solar power plants and systems in the Southeast. 

"Transacting with Cherry Street was a pleasant and efficient process," said Otso Lehmussaari, Vice President at Inman Solar. "We know these projects are in good hands with Cherry Street based on the company's commitment to building long-term value and performance. It's great to partner with a company that shares the same vision for powering a distributed generation network."

Cherry Street plans to advance its acquisition strategy in 2026, targeting both operating and late-stage development projects alongside its continued focus on delivering renewable energy to municipalities, manufacturing companies, education facilities, and more.

Cherry Street Energy | cherrystreet.com

Inman Solar | https://www.inmansolar.com/