Exhibit








Exhibit 10.1


PROMISSORY NOTE
	
								
	Principal
	Loan Date
	Maturity
	Loan No
	Call / Coll
	Account
	Officer
	Initials

	$4,000,000.00
	05-08-2020
	05-08-2022
	Redacted
	 
	Redacted
	Redacted
	 

	References in the boxes above are for Lender's use only and do not limit the applicability of this document to any particular loan or item.
Any item above containing "***" has been omitted due to text length limitations.

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	Borrower: 
	Badlands Power Fuels LLC
	 
	Lender: 
	First International Bank & Trust
	 

	 
	6720 N SCOTTSDALE RD SUITE 190
	 
	Watford City
	 
	 

	 
	SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85253
	 
	 
	PO Box 607
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	100 N Main
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	Watford City, ND 58854
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 
	(800) 359-8092
	 
	 






	
			
	Principal Amount: $4,000,000.00
	 
	Date of Note: May 8, 2020




                            
PURPOSE OF LOAN. PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP).


SBA LOAN NUMBER. Redacted


PROMISE TO PAY. Badlands Power Fuels LLC ("Borrower") promises to pay to First International Bank & Trust ("Lender"), or order, in lawful money of the United States of America, the principal amount of Four Million & 00/100 Dollars ($4,000,000.00), together with interest on the unpaid principal balance from May 8, 2020, until paid in full.


PAYMENT. Borrower will pay this loan in accordance with the following payment schedule, which calculates interest on the unpaid principal balances as described in the "INTEREST CALCULATION METHOD" paragraph using the interest rates described in this paragraph: one interest payment on May 8, 2021, with interest calculated on the unpaid principal balances using an interest rate of 1.000%; and one principal and interest payment of $4,040,555.56 on May 8, 2022, with interest calculated on the unpaid principal balances using an interest rate of 1.000%. This estimated final payment is based on the assumption that all payments will be made exactly as scheduled; the actual final payment will be for all principal and accrued interest not yet paid, together with any other unpaid amounts under this Note. Unless otherwise agreed or required by applicable law, payments will be applied first to any escrow or reserve account payments as required under any mortgage, deed of trust, or other security instrument or security agreement securing this Note; then to any accrued unpaid interest; then to principal; then to any late charges; and then to any unpaid collection costs. Borrower will pay Lender at Lender's address shown above or at such other place as Lender may designate in writing. All payments must be made in U.S. dollars and must be received by Lender consistent with any written payment instructions provided by Lender. If a payment is made consistent with Lender's payment instructions but received after 5:00 P.M. Central Time, Lender will credit Borrower's payment on the next business day.


INTEREST CALCULATION METHOD. Interest on this Note is computed on a 365/360 basis; that is, by applying the ratio of the interest rate over a year of 360 days, multiplied by the outstanding principal balance, multiplied by the actual number of days the principal balance is outstanding (but not including February 29 in leap years). All interest payable under this Note is computed using this method.


PREPAYMENT. Borrower may pay without penalty all or a portion of the amount owed earlier than it is due. Early payments will not, unless agreed to by Lender in writing, relieve Borrower of Borrower's obligation to continue to make payments under the payment schedule. Rather, early payments will reduce the principal balance due and may result in Borrower's making fewer payments. Borrower agrees not to send Lender payments marked "paid in full", "without recourse", or similar language. If Borrower sends such a payment, Lender may accept it without losing any of Lender's rights under this Note, and Borrower will remain obligated to pay any further amount owed to Lender. All written communications concerning disputed amounts, including any check or other payment instrument that indicates that the payment constitutes "payment in full" of the amount owed or that is tendered with other conditions or limitations or as full satisfaction of a disputed amount must be mailed or delivered to: First International Bank & Trust, Loan Operations, PO Box 1240 Minot, ND 58702.


LATE CHARGE. If a payment is 10 days or more late, Borrower will be charged 2.000% of the unpaid portion of the regularly scheduled payment or $100.00, whichever is greater.


INTEREST AFTER DEFAULT. Upon default, including failure to pay upon final maturity, the interest rate on this Note shall be increased by adding an additional 3.000 percentage point margin ("Default Rate Margin"). The Default Rate Margin shall also apply to each succeeding interest rate change that would have applied had there been no default. After maturity, or after this Note would have matured had there been no default, the Default Rate Margin will continue to apply to the final interest rate described in this Note. However, in no event will the interest rate exceed the maximum interest rate limitations under applicable law.


DEFAULT. Each of the following shall constitute an event of default ("Event of Default") under this Note:


Payment Default. Borrower fails to make any payment when due under this Note.


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Other Defaults. Borrower fails to comply with or to perform any other term, obligation, covenant or condition contained in this Note or in any of the related documents or to comply with or to perform any term, obligation, covenant or condition contained in any other agreement between Lender and Borrower.


Default in Favor of Third Parties. Borrower or any Grantor defaults under any loan, extension of credit, security agreement, purchase or sales agreement, or any other agreement, in favor of any other creditor or person that may materially affect any of Borrower's property or Borrower's ability to repay this Note or perform Borrower's obligations under this Note or any of the related documents.


False Statements. Any warranty, representation or statement made or furnished to Lender by Borrower or on Borrower's behalf under this Note or the related documents is false or misleading in any material respect, either now or at the time made or furnished or becomes false or misleading at any time thereafter.


Insolvency. The dissolution or termination of Borrower's existence as a going business, the insolvency of Borrower, the appointment of a receiver for any part of Borrower's property, any assignment for the benefit of creditors, any type of creditor workout, or the commencement of any proceeding under any bankruptcy or insolvency laws by or against Borrower.


Creditor or Forfeiture Proceedings. Commencement of foreclosure or forfeiture proceedings, whether by judicial proceeding, self-help, repossession or any other method, by any creditor of Borrower or by any governmental agency against any collateral securing the loan. This includes a garnishment of any of Borrower's accounts, including deposit accounts, with Lender. However, this Event of Default shall not apply if there is a good faith dispute by Borrower as to the validity or reasonableness of the claim which is the basis of the creditor or forfeiture proceeding and if Borrower gives Lender written notice of the creditor or forfeiture proceeding and deposits with Lender monies or a surety bond for the creditor or forfeiture proceeding, in an amount determined by Lender, in its sole discretion, as being an adequate reserve or bond for the dispute.


Events Affecting Guarantor. Any of the preceding events occurs with respect to any guarantor, endorser, surety, or accommodation party of any of the indebtedness or any guarantor, endorser, surety, or accommodation party dies or becomes incompetent, or revokes or disputes the validity of, or liability under, any guaranty of the indebtedness evidenced by this Note.


Change In Ownership. Any change in ownership of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the common stock of Borrower.


Adverse Change. A material adverse change occurs in Borrower's financial condition, or Lender believes the prospect of payment or performance of this Note is impaired.


Insecurity. Lender in good faith believes itself insecure.


ADDITIONAL LATE CHARGE TERMS. The late charge will not be greater than $2,500.00. I will pay this late charge promptly but only once for each late payment.


LENDER'S RIGHTS. Upon default, Lender may declare the entire unpaid principal balance under this Note and all accrued unpaid interest immediately due, and then Borrower will pay that amount.


ATTORNEYS' FEES; EXPENSES. Lender may hire or pay someone else to help collect this Note if Borrower does not pay. Borrower will pay Lender that amount. This includes, subject to any limits under applicable law, Lender's reasonable attorneys' fees and Lender's legal expenses, whether or not there is a lawsuit, including reasonable attorneys' fees, expenses for bankruptcy proceedings (including efforts to modify or vacate any automatic stay or injunction), and appeals. If not prohibited by applicable law, Borrower also will pay any court costs, in addition to all other sums provided by law.


JURY WAIVER. Lender and Borrower hereby waive the right to any jury trial in any action, proceeding, or counterclaim brought by either Lender or Borrower against the other.


GOVERNING LAW. This Note will be governed by federal law applicable to Lender and, to the extent not preempted by federal law, the laws of the State of North Dakota without regard to its conflicts of law provisions. This Note has been accepted by Lender in the State of North Dakota.


CHOICE OF VENUE. If there is a lawsuit, Borrower agrees upon Lender's request to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of McKenzie County, State of North Dakota.


RIGHT OF SETOFF. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Lender reserves a right of setoff in all Borrower's accounts with Lender (whether checking, savings, or some other account). This includes all accounts Borrower holds jointly with someone else and all accounts Borrower may open in the future. However, this does not include any IRA or Keogh accounts, or any trust accounts for which setoff would be prohibited by law. Borrower authorizes Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to charge or setoff all sums owing on the debt against any and all such accounts.


COLLATERAL. This loan is unsecured.


SUCCESSOR INTERESTS. The terms of this Note shall be binding upon Borrower, and upon Borrower's heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Lender and its successors and assigns.


NOTIFY US OF INACCURATE INFORMATION WE REPORT TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES. Borrower may notify Lender if Lender reports any inaccurate information about Borrower's account(s) to a consumer reporting agency. Borrower's written notice describing the specific inaccuracy(ies) should be sent to Lender at the following address: First International Bank & Trust Loan Operations PO Box 1240 Minot, ND 58702.




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WHEN SBA IS THE HOLDER. This Note will be interpreted and enforced under federal law, including SBA regulations. Lender or SBA may use state or local procedures for filing papers, recording documents, giving notice, foreclosing liens, and other purposes. By using such procedures, SBA does not waive any federal immunity from state or local control, penalty, tax, or liability. As to this Note, Borrower may not claim or assert against SBA any local or state law to deny any obligation, defeat any claim of SBA, or preempt federal law.


ELECTRONIC SIGNATURES. The parties hereto agree that delivery of a signature page to, or an executed counterpart of, this document by facsimile, email transmission of a scanned image or other electronic means, shall be effective as delivery of an originally executed counterpart, and shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based record keeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law.


GENERAL PROVISIONS. If any part of this Note cannot be enforced, this fact will not affect the rest of the Note. Lender may delay or forgo enforcing any of its rights or remedies under this Note without losing them. Borrower and any other person who signs, guarantees or endorses this Note, to the extent allowed by law, waive presentment, demand for payment, and notice of dishonor. Upon any change in the terms of this Note, and unless otherwise expressly stated in writing, no party who signs this Note, whether as maker, guarantor, accommodation maker or endorser, shall be released from liability. All such parties agree that Lender may renew or extend (repeatedly and for any length of time) this loan or release any party or guarantor or collateral; or impair, fail to realize upon or perfect Lender's security interest in the collateral; and take any other action deemed necessary by Lender without the consent of or notice to anyone. All such parties also agree that Lender may modify this loan without the consent of or notice to anyone other than the party with whom the modification is made. The obligations under this Note are joint and several.


PRIOR TO SIGNING THIS NOTE, BORROWER READ AND UNDERSTOOD ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THIS NOTE. BORROWER AGREES TO THE TERMS OF THE NOTE.


BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COMPLETED COPY OF THIS PROMISSORY NOTE.


BORROWER:
	
					
	BADLANDS POWER FUELS LLC
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	By:
	/s/ Charles King Thompson
	 
	By:
	/s/ Eric Thomas Bauer

	 
	Charles King Thompson, Director & CEO of Badlands Power Fuels LLC
	 
	 
	Eric Thomas Bauer, Director, Vice President and Treasurer of Badlands Power Fuels LLC

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	By:
	/s/ Robert Fox
	 
	By:
	/s/ Joseph M. Crabb

	 
	Robert Fox, Director and President of Badlands Power Fuels LLC
	 
	 
	Joseph M. Crabb, Director, Vice President and Secretary of Badlands Power Fuels LLC

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 

	 
	 
	 
	 
	 








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