Protect Your Yield

Kitu Systems, a leading provider of clean energy solutions for distributed energy resource (DER) management and electric vehicle (EV) charging, announces the launch of Katapult, a testing-as-a-service offering that enables utilities and aggregators to validate and certify their DER programs at large scale before problems surface in the field. 

As distributed energy resources proliferate across the grid, utilities face growing pressure to ensure their management platforms can handle large, simultaneous device interactions during load shifting and demand response events. Performance issues and certificate failures that go undetected in normal operations can cause real disruptions when it matters most. Katapult gives utility teams a way to find and fix those issues before they manifest. 

Katapult is purpose-built around IEEE 2030.5 and supports CSIP and CSIP-AUS deployments, making it directly applicable to the compliance and certification requirements utilities face in both North American and Australian markets, at a scale of up to one million devices. Each test run produces a detailed report with expert analysis, helping teams identify issues including race conditions, delivery latency, performance degradation, memory leaks, and response code compliance failures, before they impact a real DER event. 

"Utilities are being asked to manage more devices, across more programs, under tighter compliance requirements and most have no way to know how their platform will actually behave under that pressure until something goes wrong,” shares Thomas Barbour, Kitu’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Very few organizations in this industry have the depth of IEEE 2030.5 expertise and the infrastructure to test at true fleet scale. With Katapult, we're bringing that capability directly to utility teams, so they can move forward with confidence.” 

Kitu Systems has already validated the platform through one of the largest DER interoperability tests ever conducted, simulating one million concurrent device connections under real protocol load, giving utilities confidence that Katapult isn't just built for scale, it's been proven at scale. 

Don't wait for a failed DER event to find out how your platform performs. Contact Jay Pilkington, Kitu's VP of Sales, at [email protected] or (619) 569-2208 to learn how Katapult can validate your DER program at production scale. 

Kitu Systems | https://www.kitu.io/

Comstock Inc. (NYSE American: LODE) (“Comstock” and the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Comstock Metals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Comstock Inc. (NYSE: LODE), a leader in the responsible recycling of end-of-life solar panels with the only certified, North American, zero-landfill solution, in collaboration with JobsOhio and OhioSE, announced its selection of Cambridge, Ohio, as one of the national locations for its industrial-scale solar panel recycling and production facility and logistics hub. The Ohio operation is expected to create 20 full-time positions.

The project is supported by a newly announced JobsOhio $75,000 Grant, which promotes economic development, business expansion, and job creation by funding eligible projects. OhioSE supported and assisted the company through the process of establishing itself and obtaining this financial assistance.

Comstock Metals LLC specializes in sustainable, industrial-scale recycling of end-of-life solar panels, that cleanly recovers valuable materials, including aluminum, copper, silver, and glass, using a fully circular, zero-landfill solution. The company has operated its initial recycling facility in Silver Springs, Nevada, for the past two and a half years, where it is currently scaling to 100,000 tons of solar panels annually, and achieves 100% material recovery. The Cambridge facility will expand that capacity to ultimately produce aluminum, silver, and glass bead outputs for resale into Midwest industrial supply chains.

“Comstock Metals’ decision to establish its first Ohio processing and production facility in Cambridge reflects the strategic advantages the state offers growing companies,” said JobsOhio President and CEO, J.P. Nauseef. “With its centralized location and strong logistics network, Cambridge is well positioned to support Comstock Metals’ continued expansion as demand for solar recycling services grows across the country.”

Founded in 2022 and headquartered in Silver Springs, Nevada, Comstock Metals has built a national customer base across the Southwest, Midwest and eastern United States. The Cambridge facility will enable Comstock Metals to reduce long-distance transportation costs, which can account for 30 to 50 percent of total recycling expenses, while better serving its growing Midwest and eastern US customer base. The company has identified a 21,570-square-foot facility with an adjacent laydown yard.

“Our new Cambridge facility in Ohio is an integral part of our growing national capacity of logistics, storage and recycling of end-of-life solar materials that are decommissioning across the country,” said Corrado De Gasperis, Chief Executive Officer of Comstock Inc. “We truly appreciate the collaboration with JobsOhio and OhioSE for supporting and enabling these jobs. The speed that we build these human systems and deploy our recycling network is critical to keeping these hazardous materials out of our landfills, communities and eco-systems.”

“The central Ohio location provides a cost-effective, logistical solution for our growing Midwest and Northeast US customer base, supporting the company’s goal to set the standard for solar recycling here in the United States,” said Dr. Fortunato Villamagna, President of Comstock Metals. “Our team has developed a strong network of relationships in the eastern US with solar power producers, O&M groups, and manufacturers. The support from JobsOhio and OhioSE is an important step in our nation’s recognition and prioritization of these critical recycling activities that best serve our communities.”

“We are grateful for the decision of Comstock Metals to invest in Guernsey County,” said Matt Abbott, President & CEO of OhioSE Economic Development. “This investment continues to prove the positive momentum that is taking place in eastern and southeastern Ohio,” said Abbott.

“Guernsey County is excited to welcome Comstock Metals to the community and are grateful for their investment and the new job opportunities they will bring to Jackson Township,” said Bill Arnett, Executive Director, Cambridge-Guernsey CIC. “We look forward to supporting them through their local startup and future growth opportunities,” Arnett said.

The Cambridge-Guernsey County CIC was created by the Guernsey County Commissioners in 1965 and designated by resolution to perform the economic development functions for the County, City of Cambridge, and Village of Byesville. It was joined in this function in 2000 by the creation of the Guernsey County Port Authority. Operating out of the same office with a common director and staff, the organizations are positioned to offer the best resources of each to help businesses locate or expand in Guernsey County.

Ohio Southeast Economic Development (OhioSE) is the JobsOhio Network Partner for southern, eastern, and southeastern Ohio, providing economic development work and resources in 25 rural counties. Geographically the largest of the seven regions across the state, OhioSE partners closely with regional development districts, local economic development offices, state agencies, and other entities to expand, retain, and attract businesses in the counties they serve. Learn more at OhioSE.com or contact Sarah Arnold, OhioSE Director of Communication & Marketing: (740) 525-5510 and [email protected].

JobsOhio, Ohio's private nonprofit economic development corporation, enhances company growth and personnel development through business attraction, retention, and expansion across ten competitive industry sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals, JobsOhio utilizes a comprehensive network to foster talent production in targeted industries and attract talent through Find Your Ohio. Collaborating with seven regional partners, including Dayton Development Coalition, Lake to River Economic Development, Ohio Southeast Economic Development, One Columbus, REDI Cincinnati, Regional Growth Partnership, and Team NEO, JobsOhio delivers world-class customer service to provide companies with a competitive advantage. Follow JobsOhio at LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Learn more at www.jobsohio.com or contact Matt Englehart, JobsOhio Communications Manager: (614) 300-1152 and [email protected]

Comstock I www.comstock.inc

Quino Energy, a company developing water-based organic flow batteries, has been selected by Tencent for a grant, under its CarbonX program, to fund development of a MWh-scale battery system to demonstrate reliable clean energy generation for Himandhoo Island in the Maldives. The battery will be integrated into a larger microgrid featuring floating PV generation financed by the Asian Development Bank and will complement the ongoing Preparing Outer Islands for Sustainable Energy Development (POISED) project that will install terrestrial PV and lithium-ion batteries on the island.

The Quino Energy battery will provide the microgrid with essential energy storage capabilities to slash reliance on expensive imported diesel to generate electricity, reducing costs while providing a resilient power supply to the island. This energy supply will be critical to the island community’s safety and ability to continue daily operations in the face of extreme weather or fluctuating energy demands.

The project will be supported by Atri Energy Transition, which led Quino Energy’s Series A fundraising round in October 2025. They will be collaborating with Quino Energy to manufacture the proprietary organic electrolyte in nearby Pune, India, and will also provide Operations and Maintenance (O&M) support for the battery system at Himandhoo Island for at least five years after commissioning. Suqian Time Energy Storage will provide the flow battery hardware, and EPC and island microgrid specialist Sinosoar will take charge of installation, construction, and integration. Earlier in the month, the entire project team visited Himandhoo Island and met with representatives from the local council, as well as other representatives from the Maldives Ministry of Climate Change, Environment, and Energy in the capital, Male.

“Quino Energy is immensely grateful for the support from the Tencent CarbonX program to enable us to demonstrate our organic flow battery in a setting that can directly benefit a community,” said Eugene Beh, CEO and cofounder of Quino Energy. “This represents the first commercial deployment of the organic flow battery technology, in addition to government-supported projects we previously announced. The collaboration showcases how Quino’s technology will continue to enable cooperation between parties from across the world to rapidly advance the next generation of flow batteries.”

“We’d like to extend our congratulations to Quino Energy and all the stakeholders of this project,” said S. Kishore, founder of Atri Energy Transition. “The selection of Quino by Tencent for the CarbonX Award is an endorsement of organic electrolyte chemistry. We are happy to be part of the transition of this chemistry from pilot to commercial scale.”

CEO Eugene Beh will attend the CarbonX Award Ceremony today, June 24, organized by TED Countdown, in tandem with London Climate Action Week to accept this grant.

In the past year, Quino Energy closed its series A funding round, led by Atri Energy Transition, received a $10M grantfrom the California Energy Commission and secured $5M in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Critical Facility Energy Resilience (CiFER) program to support a 5 MWh flow battery deployment in Southern California. Quino Energy also signed a Joint Development Agreement with Jena Flow Batteries, whose parent company Suqian Time Energy Systems is the flow battery hardware provider for the Himandhoo project.

Quino Energy | quinoenergy.com 

Tencent | https://www.tencent.com/en-us/

Renewable Properties, a developer and investor in small-scale utility solar, community solar, energy storage, and electric vehicle infrastructure projects, and Sonoma Clean Power, the community choice aggregator serving Sonoma and Mendocino counties in California, are pleased to announce the ribbon cutting for the Redemeyer Road Solar project in Ukiah, California. The ribbon cutting will take place at 11 a.m. Pacific time on July 14 at the Ukiah project site, and Renewable Properties will conduct a tour of the solar and storage facilities.

The ceremony’s invited speakers will include:

• Brian Barnacle, Chair, Sonoma Clean Power Board of Directors

• Brian von Moos, Chief Revenue Officer, Renewable Properties

• Geof Syphers, CEO, Sonoma Clean Power

• John Haschak, Supervisor, County of Mendocino (3rd District)

The 4 MWac Redemeyer Road Solar project, which was completed in June 2026, is Sonoma Clean Power’s first locally sited solar + storage project and is also its largest local solar project. The solar generation is paired with a 4 MW lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery energy storage system with a 4-hour duration, providing Sonoma Clean Power with a dispatchable energy resource that enables load shifting while providing ancillary services.

Under California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard, Redemeyer Road Solar also qualifies for Portfolio Content Category 1, in which physical electricity and its associated environmental benefits are generated at the same time and delivered together to the electrical grid. The facility is expected to generate approximately 10,000 MWh of clean energy annually, enough to power 1,739 homes per year. 

“The Redemeyer Road Solar project reflects Renewable Properties’ ongoing commitment to developing small-scale utility renewable energy projects that expand solar access to the communities where we operate,” said Brian von Moos, Renewable Properties’ Chief Revenue Officer, who will be attending the ceremony. “We’re pleased to support Sonoma Clean Power, a pioneer in delivering locally generated renewable energy, with projects like this one.” 

Sonoma Clean Power will use the energy from the project for its EverGreen service, a unique program that offers its subscribers 100% renewable, locally generated energy 24/7 through solar, energy storage, and geothermal power sited within Sonoma and Mendocino counties. Sonoma Clean Power is exploring further opportunities for clean energy development in the region.

“Our largest local solar project to date shows what’s possible when we invest in clean energy right here in our community,” said Geof Syphers, CEO of Sonoma Clean Power. “By pairing solar with battery storage, we can provide that power when it’s most needed, supporting reliability and keeping the benefits of that energy local.”

“This project reflects our Board’s commitment to investing in local solutions that benefit the communities we serve,” said Brian Barnacle, Chair of the Sonoma Clean Power Board of Directors. “It’s exciting to see a project of this scale come to life in Mendocino County.”

For press interested in attending the ribbon cutting ceremony and interviewing guests, please contact [email protected] for more specific event information and access.

Renewable Properties |  www.renewprop.com

Sonoma Clean Power | sonomacleanpower.org

Lilac Solutions, a leading provider of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, announced it has selected Hatch as the engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm for its Phase 1 commercial lithium carbonate facility on Utah's Great Salt Lake.

Hatch will support Lilac in the engineering, procurement, and management of the construction and commissioning of the 5,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) facility, with first lithium production planned for 2028. The agreement includes a limited notice to proceed, allowing detailed engineering and early procurement to advance ahead of the final investment decision expected later in 2026. 

The Phase 1 facility will be built on a 20-acre site on the north arm of the Great Salt Lake in Box Elder County, Utah. It will use Lilac's Gen 5 ion exchange (IX) technology to extract lithium directly from lake brine and return the same volume of lithium-depleted brine back to the lake, a non-consumptive process that does not lower lake water levels.

The project will generate local tax revenues and royalties to support lake preservation and create jobs in Utah. The IX media, the active material in the lithium extraction process, will be manufactured at Lilac's facility in Fernley, Nevada, keeping the supply chain domestic and eliminating dependence on Chinese suppliers.

"Hatch has a long track record in the lithium industry and the execution capabilities needed to bring this project online," said Raef Sully, Chief Executive Officer of Lilac. “With Hatch's team and global organization supporting this project, we're ready to build.”

"Lilac has developed one of the most innovative and technically robust DLE technologies in the industry, and the Great Salt Lake project is an important step forward for domestic lithium supply," said Conrad Blake, Managing Director, Minerals, Hatch. "We look forward to putting Hatch's project delivery expertise to work and bringing this facility online."

The north arm of the Great Salt Lake holds an estimated 1.4 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, making it one of the largest identified lithium resources in the United States. Lilac completed pilot operations on the lake in 2025, demonstrating 87% average lithium recovery on a high sulfate brine containing only 70 mg/L lithium, proving Lilac's capability to economically extract lithium from ultra-low-grade brine. Third-party sampling and lab analysis confirmed the Lilac IX technology performance and validated Lilac's non-consumptive and non-contaminating process.

Lilac has secured a binding 10-year take-or-pay offtake agreement with Traxys North America covering 100% of planned Phase 1 production and has completed FEL-3 engineering. With EPCM selection now complete, the project is on track to be among the first U.S. lithium brine projects to reach final investment decision and begin construction.

Lilac Solutions | lilacsolutions.com

Hatch | www.hatch.com

PJM announced the retirement of Craig Glazer, Vice President – Federal Government Policy, effective December 2026.

Glazer served on PJM's Executive Team for 26 years during a period when PJM more than doubled in size and added new markets and planning responsibilities. He has held key leadership roles at PJM, focusing during his tenure on regulatory and legislative policies before Congress, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the United States Department of Energy and other federal and state agencies.

Glazer was responsible for drafting key legislative provisions governing reliability and planning, which were enacted into law through the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. He also played a key role on various national policy initiatives for the ISO/RTO Council, addressing subjects as diverse as gas-electric coordination, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) winterization standard and inclusion of a "reliability safety valve" in various EPA rulemakings.

"On behalf of all of us, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Craig for his 26 years of exceptional service and commitment to PJM," said David Mills, President and CEO. "His professionalism and wisdom have touched countless colleagues at PJM and throughout our industry, and his presence has significantly contributed to our success. We will miss his wit, humor and insightful thoughts. Congratulations on an extraordinary career and thank you for leaving PJM better than you found it."

Prior to joining PJM, Glazer served as commissioner and chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, where he oversaw Ohio's move toward deregulation of its telephone, natural gas, transportation and electric industries. He also chaired the state's Siting Board and served as a member of the governor's Cabinet.

Glazer served on the Board of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, where he chaired the International Relations Committee and served as an active member of its Electricity Committee and Energy Resources Committee and on the board of the GridWise Alliance. He also chaired the National Council on Competition in the Electric Industry, a federal-state collaborative including FERC, DOE, EPA, state regulators and legislators. In addition, he serves as PJM's representative to the International Energy Agency and as a peer reviewer of the IEA's annual "World Energy Outlook."

"It has been a true privilege to serve alongside such a dedicated and talented team," Glazer said. "Together, we have advanced important work in shaping sound energy policy. I intend to stay active in the energy industry and am deeply grateful for the collaboration, professionalism and shared commitment I've experienced throughout my time at PJM. Thank you for your support and partnership – it has meant a great deal to me."

PJM will be distributing responsibilities across an expanded team of professionals with specialized expertise to serve the multifaceted demands of the federal policy sphere.

Individuals interested in joining our team are encouraged to visit the Careers section on PJM.com for current and upcoming opportunities.

PJM | insidelines.pjm.com

NEMA welcomes the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's action to bring greater transparency and certainty to the process for connecting major new sources of electricity demand and infrastructure to the grid. As demand surges from data centers, advanced manufacturing, and electrification, innovative grid solutions and efficient interconnection policies will be critical to maintaining America's competitive edge. 

"Thank you to Chairman Swett and the Commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for taking an important step toward improving transparency and consistency in the process for connecting large loads to the electric grid, while recognizing the value of proven grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side solutions that can improve reliability, resilience, and affordability," said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips.

"NEMA's electrical manufacturers are innovating to help America meet rising electricity demand by getting more out of the grid we have today, while also building new infrastructure to reliably support our future needs,” said Phillips. “From grid-enhancing technologies and advanced energy management systems to reconductoring and behind-the-meter solutions, our industry is delivering technologies that unlock capacity, improve performance, and accelerate economic growth.

NEMA's recently-released AI Data Center Energy Performance Framework complements FERC's action on interconnection policies by providing a roadmap to improve the efficiency, resilience, and performance of next-generation data centers—helping ensure that new sources of demand are connected and operated as effectively and safely as possible. Together, these efforts help lay the foundation for a stronger, more resilient electric grid.

National Electrical Manufacturers Association |  makeitelectric.org