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RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]  
RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
NOTE 9 – RELATED-PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Waste Coal Agreement
The Company is obligated under a Waste Coal Agreement (the “WCA”) to take minimum annual delivery of 200,000 tons of waste coal as long as there is a sufficient quantity of waste coal that meets the Average Quality Characteristics (as defined in the WCA). Under the terms of the WCA, the Company is not charged for the waste coal itself but is charged a $6.07 per ton base handling fee as it is obligated to mine, process, load, and otherwise handle the waste coal for itself and also for other customers of Coal Valley Sales, LLC (“CVS”) from the Russellton site specifically. The Company is also obligated to unload and properly dispose of ash at the Russellton site. The Company is charged a reduced handling fee of $1.00 per ton for any tons in excess of the minimum take of 200,000 tons. The Company is the designated operator at the Russellton site and, therefore, is responsible for complying with all state and federal requirements and regulations.
The Company purchases coal from Coal Valley Properties, LLC, a single-member limited liability company which is entirely owned by one individual who has ownership in Q Power, and from CVS. CVS is a single-member limited liability company which is owned by a coal reclamation partnership of which an owner of Q Power has a direct and an indirect interest in the partnership of 16.26%.
The Company expensed $855,605 and $733,458 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively, associated with coal purchases from CVS, which is included in fuel expense in the consolidated statements of operations. See the composition of the due to related parties balance as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, below.
Fuel Service and Beneficial Use Agreement
The Company has a Fuel Service and Beneficial Use Agreement (“FBUA”) with Northampton Fuel Supply Company, Inc. (“NFS”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olympus Power. The Company buys fuel from and sends ash to NFS, for the mutual benefit of both facilities, under the terms and rates established in the FBUA. The FBUA expires December 31, 2023. The Company expensed $3,139,414 and $3,121,423 for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which is included in fuel expense in the consolidated statements of operations. See the composition of the due to related parties balance as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, below.
Fuel purchases under these agreements for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, were as follows:
December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
Coal Purchases:
Northampton Fuel Supply Company, Inc.$3,139,414 $3,121,423 
Coal Valley Sales, LLC855,605 733,458 
Total$3,995,019 $3,854,881 
Fuel Management Agreements
Panther Creek Fuel Services LLC
Effective August 1, 2021, the Company entered into the Fuel Management Agreement (the “Fuel Agreement”) with Panther Creek Fuel Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olympus Services LLC which, in turn, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olympus Power LLC. Under the Fuel Agreement, Panther Creek Fuel Services LLC provides the Company with operations and maintenance services with respect to the Facility. The Company reimburses Panther Creek Energy Services LLC for actual wages and salaries. The Company expensed $929,942 and $1,697,850 for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which is included in operations and maintenance expense in the consolidated statements of operations. See the composition of the due to related parties balance as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, below.
Scrubgrass Fuel Services LLC
Effective February 1, 2022, the Company entered into the Fuel Management Agreement (the “Scrubgrass Fuel Agreement”) with Scrubgrass Fuel Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olympus Services LLC, which, in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Olympus Power LLC. Under the Scrubgrass Fuel Agreement, Scrubgrass Fuel Services LLC provides the Company with operations and maintenance services with respect to the Facility. The Company reimburses Scrubgrass Energy Services LLC for actual wages and salaries. The Company expensed $374,944 and $780,410 for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which is included in operations and maintenance expense in the consolidated statements of operations. See the composition of the due to related parties balance as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, below.
O&M Agreements
Olympus Power LLC
On November 2, 2021, Stronghold LLC entered into an Operations, Maintenance and Ancillary Services Agreement (the “Omnibus Services Agreement”) with Olympus Stronghold Services, LLC (“Olympus Stronghold Services”), whereby Olympus Stronghold Services currently provides certain operations and maintenance services to Stronghold LLC and currently employs certain personnel to operate the Panther Creek Plant and the Scrubgrass Plant. Stronghold LLC reimburses Olympus Stronghold Services for those costs incurred by Olympus Stronghold Services and approved by Stronghold LLC in the course of providing services under the Omnibus Services Agreement, including payroll and benefits
costs and insurance costs. The material costs incurred by Olympus Stronghold Services shall be approved by Stronghold LLC. From November 2, 2021, until October 1, 2023, Stronghold LLC also agreed to pay Olympus Stronghold Services a management fee at the rate of $1,000,000 per year, payable monthly for services provided at each of the Panther Creek Plant and Scrubgrass Plant, and an additional one-time mobilization fee of $150,000 upon the effective date of the Omnibus Services Agreement, which was deferred until 2023. Effective October 1, 2022, Stronghold LLC began paying Olympus Stronghold Services a management fee for the Panther Creek Plant in the amount of $500,000 per year, payable monthly for services provided at the Panther Creek Plant. This is a reduction of $500,000 from the $1,000,000 per year management fee that the Company was previously scheduled to pay Olympus Stronghold Services. The Company expensed $669,095 and $1,086,649 for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which includes the monthly management fees plus reimbursable costs incurred by Olympus Stronghold Services for payroll, benefits and insurance. On February 13, 2024, Stronghold LLC and Olympus Services entered into a Termination and Release Agreement (the “Termination and Release”) whereby the Omnibus Services Agreement was terminated. The Termination and Release contained a mutual customary release. The Company expects to continue to pay Olympus Power LLC $10,000 per month for ongoing assistance at each of the Scrubgrass Plant and Panther Creek Plant.
Panther Creek Energy Services LLC
Effective August 2, 2021, the Company entered into the Operations and Maintenance Agreement (the “O&M Agreement”) with Panther Creek Energy Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olympus Services LLC which, in turn, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olympus Power LLC. Under the O&M Agreement, Panther Creek Energy Services LLC provides the Company with operations and maintenance services with respect to the Facility. The Company reimburses Panther Creek Energy Services LLC for actual wages and salaries. The Company also agreed to pay a management fee of $175,000 per operating year, which is payable monthly, and is adjusted by the consumer price index on each anniversary of the effective date. The Company expensed $1,856,501 and $1,697,850 for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which includes the monthly management fees plus reimbursable costs incurred by Olympus Stronghold Services for payroll, benefits and insurance. See the composition of the due to related parties balance as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, below.
In connection with the equity contribution agreement, effective July 9, 2021 (the "Equity Contribution Agreement"), the Company entered into the Amended and Restated Operations and Maintenance Agreement (the “Amended O&M Agreement”) with Panther Creek Energy Services LLC. Under the Amended O&M Agreement, the management fee is $250,000 for the twelve-month period following the effective date and $325,000 per year thereafter. The effective date of the Amended O&M Agreement was the closing date of the Equity Contribution Agreement.
Scrubgrass Energy Services LLC
Effective February 1, 2022, the Company entered into the Operations and Maintenance Agreement (the “Scrubgrass O&M Agreement”) with Scrubgrass Energy Services LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olympus Services LLC which, in turn, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olympus Power LLC. Under the Scrubgrass O&M Agreement, Scrubgrass Energy Services LLC provides the Company with operations and maintenance services with respect to the Facility. The Company reimburses Scrubgrass Energy Services LLC for actual wages and salaries. The Company also agreed to pay a management fee of $175,000 per operating year, which is payable monthly, and is adjusted by the consumer price index on each anniversary date of the effective date. The Company expensed $2,269,290 and $6,476,968 for the years ended December 31, 2023, and 2022, respectively, which includes the monthly management fees plus reimbursable costs incurred by Olympus Stronghold Services for payroll, benefits and insurance. See the composition of the due to related parties balance as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, below.
In connection with the Equity Contribution Agreement effective July 9, 2021, the Company entered into the Amended and Restated Operations and Maintenance Agreement (the “Scrubgrass Amended O&M Agreement”) with Scrubgrass Energy Services LLC. Under the Scrubgrass Amended O&M Agreement, the management fee is $250,000 for the twelve-month period following the effective date and $325,000 per year thereafter. The effective date of the Scrubgrass Amended O&M Agreement was the closing date of the Equity Contribution Agreement.
Effective October 1, 2022, Stronghold LLC no longer pays Olympus Stronghold Services a management fee for the Scrubgrass Plant.
Management Services Agreement
On April 19, 2023, pursuant to an independent consulting agreement the Company entered into with William Spence in connection with his departure from the Board (the "Spence Consulting Agreement"), Mr. Spence's annualized management fee of $600,000 decreased to the greater of $200,000 or 10% of any economic benefits derived from the sale of beneficial
use ash, carbon sequestration efforts or alternative fuel arrangements, in each case, arranged by Mr. Spence. The previous consulting and advisory agreement with Mr. Spence was terminated in connection with entry into the Spence Consulting Agreement.
In April 2023, as part of the compensation pursuant to the Spence Consulting Agreement, Mr. Spence also received a one-time grant of 250,000 fully vested shares of the Company's Class A common stock, which has been recorded as stock-based compensation for the year ended December 31, 2023, within general and administrative expense in the consolidated statement of operations.
Warrants
On September 13, 2022, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with Greg Beard, the Company's chairman and chief executive officer, for the purchase and sale of 60,241 shares of Class A common stock and warrants to purchase 60,241 shares of Class A common stock, at an initial exercise price of $17.50 per share, subsequently amended to $10.10 per share and, in January 2024, to $7.51 per share. Refer to Note 16 – Equity Issuances for additional details.
Additionally, on April 20, 2023, Mr. Beard invested $1.0 million in exchange for 100,000 shares of Class A common stock and 100,000 pre-funded warrants. Refer to Note 16 – Equity Issuances for additional details.
Amounts due to related parties as of December 31, 2023, and 2022, were as follows:
December 31, 2023December 31, 2022
Due to related parties:
Coal Valley Properties, LLC$— $134,452 
Q Power LLC— 500,000 
Coal Valley Sales, LLC433,195 — 
Panther Creek Operating LLC14,511 — 
Panther Creek Energy Services LLC— 10,687 
Panther Creek Fuel Services LLC— 53,482 
Northampton Generating Fuel Supply Company, Inc.226,951 594,039 
Olympus Power LLC and other subsidiaries44,181 78,302 
Scrubgrass Energy Services LLC— 4,087 
Scrubgrass Fuel Services LLC— — 
Totals$718,838 $1,375,049