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Note 10 - Stock-based Compensation Plans

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2024

Notes to Financial Statements

Share-Based Payment Arrangement [Text Block]

NOTE 10 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

The Company has issued options and has granted stock awards pursuant to its 2019 Equity Incentive Plan, as described below.

2019 Equity Incentive Plan

The 2019 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2019 EIP”) was originally approved by stockholders at the July 10, 2019 Annual Meeting, with amendments to the plan approved by stockholders at the July 12, 2022 Annual Meeting and the June 11, 2024 Annual Meeting. The plan, as amended, provides for the grant and issuance of up to 5,200,000 shares and options to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants.

Effective July 1, 2021, under the 2019 EIP, each outside director receives $75,000 of cash compensation and receives a deferred stock award consisting of shares of the Company’s common stock with a value equal to $25,000 on June 30 of each year. The award accrues on a quarterly basis, with $18,750 of cash compensation and $6,250 of stock earned for each fiscal quarter in which a director serves. The deferred stock award vests automatically on the January 31 that first follows the award date.

Stock Awards to Directors, Officers, Consultants and Employees

The Company has granted stock awards pursuant to its 2019 EIP.

Of the total 5,200,000 shares reserved under the 2019 EIP, 4,761,792 shares and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) have been awarded to the Company’s directors, employees and consultants as of December 31, 2024.

825,000 RSUs were granted to employees in April 2021 as long-term equity incentive awards ( “April 2021 RSU Grant”). Of the 825,000 RSUs granted under the April 2021 RSU Grant, 510,000 RSUs were scheduled to vest upon completion of certain milestones, including (a) 255,000 RSUs which vested in July 2021 upon completion of refinancing of the Company’s then existing senior secured debt and funding to complete the purchase of the Northern Pipeline (“ Northern Pipeline Vesting Event”), and (b) 255,000 RSUs scheduled to vest upon completion of final binding water supply agreement(s) for the delivery of at least 9,500 acre-feet of water per annum to customers (“Supply Agreement Vesting Event”). 170,000 RSUs, including 85,000 related to the Supply Agreement Vesting Event, were accelerated and became fully vested as a result of an amended employee agreement entered into in February 2022 upon the change of the Executive Chair, 60,000 RSUs vested and were issued on January 3, 2023, and 170,000 RSUs vested and were issued on March 1, 2023. 85,000 of the RSUs related to the Supply Agreement Vesting Event were cancelled effective December 31, 2023 and the remaining 85,000 shares related to the Supply Agreement Vesting Event vested in March 2024.

Additionally, in July 2022, 60,000 RSUs were granted to employees as long-term equity incentive awards ( “July 2022 RSU Grant”). The RSUs granted under the July 2022 RSU Grant vested on January 2, 2024. In January 2024, 60,000 additional RSUs were granted to employees which vested on January 2, 2025. The RSU incentive awards are subject in each case to continued employment with the Company through the vesting date.

Of the 255,000 RSUs earned and issued in July 2021 upon the Northern Pipeline Vesting Event, the Company issued 158,673 shares net of taxes withheld and paid in cash by the Company. Of the 170,000 RSUs issued on March 1, 2023, the Company issued 102,871 shares net of taxes withheld and paid in cash by the Company. Of the 85,000 RSUs earned and issued in March 2024 upon the Supply Agreement Vesting Event, the Company issued 62,624 shares net of taxes withheld and paid in cash by the Company.

Additionally, in April 2022 the Company issued 450,000 performance stock units (“PSUs”) upon achievement of certain performance events. The PSUs were to vest upon the Company’s common stock achieving price hurdles (“Price Hurdles”) but not sooner than three years from date of grant date. These PSUs were cancelled in April 2024 in conjunction with entering into an amended and rested employment agreement with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer which provided a grant of 1.6 million RSUs and PSUs with (a) 700,000 RSUs that vest over a three-year period from 2024 to 2026; (b) 600,000 RSUs that will vest upon achievement of milestones related to completion of certain permits, entering into binding contracts for water delivery or storage, and delivery of water, and (c) 300,000 PSUs that will vest upon a Price Hurdle of $15 per share for 20 consecutive days.

In September 2024, the Company granted 275,000 RSUs in conjunction with entering into an employment agreement with the Company’s Chief Operating Officer. 137,500 of these RSUs vest over a three-year period from September 2024 to September 2027 and the remaining 137,500 RSUs will vest upon achievement of milestones related to completion of certain permits, entering into binding contracts for water delivery or storage, and delivery of water.

400,000 RSUs were granted to a consultant on July 1, 2023 ( “July 2023 RSU Grant”). Of the 400,000 RSUs granted under the July 2023 RSU Grant, 100,000 RSUs vested and were issued in October 2023, 200,000 RSUs vested and were issued in February 2024 and 100,000 RSUs vested and were issued in March 2024.

Additionally, 300,000 RSUs were granted to a consultant in January 2024 to vest upon achieving certain milestones. As of September 30, 2024, all 300,000 of these RSUs vested and were issued upon entering into binding supply agreements for the Mojave Groundwater Bank.

A summary of RSU activity under the plans during the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 is presented below:

						Weighted-
						Average
						Grant-date
		Shares				Fair Value


Nonvested at December 31, 2022			543,624			$	8.90
Granted			603,884			$	3.85
Forfeited or canceled			(90,315	)		$	10.75
Vested			(468,116	)		$	7.19

Nonvested at December 31, 2023			589,077			$	4.80
Granted			2,533,053			$	2.54
Forfeited or canceled			-			$	-
Vested			(1,627,216	)		$	3.74

Nonvested at December 31, 2024			1,494,914			$	2.49

As of December 31, 2024, the Company had approximately $0.9 million of unrecognized stock compensation expense related to nonvested PSUs and RSUs.