Global Water Resources to Provide Water Services to Nikola’s New Zero-Emission Semi-Truck Manufacturing Plant

PHOENIX, Jan. 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Water Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ: GWRS), (TSX: GWR), a pure-play water resource management company, has entered into a master utility agreement with Nikola Corporation (NASDAQ: NKLA) to provide water and wastewater services to Nikola’s new manufacturing plant in Coolidge, Arizona adjacent to Inland Port Arizona.

Nikola broke ground on its manufacturing facility where it plans to make hydrogen-powered and battery-powered Class 8 semi-trucks. Nikola plans to complete the initial phase of construction by mid-2021, with the follow-on phases completed within the next 12-18 months.

“We are excited to take this next important step with Global Water Resources, who has a reputation as a strong water resource manager and provider for the region,” commented Mark Russell, CEO of Nikola. “Our goal for this manufacturing site is to design it with the smallest environmental footprint possible, while making the highest quality products for our customers. Our engagement of Global Water reflects a shared commitment to a sustainable future for Arizona and beyond.”

Global Water plans to submit the regulatory filing for a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CC&N) permit in the first quarter of 2021. The permit would establish Global Water as the exclusive provider of water, wastewater and recycled water services to the new facility.

The Nikola site is located adjacent to Inland Port Arizona, a 2,700-acre mega-site that is currently under development by Saint Holdings. Inland Port Arizona falls within a 3.4 square mile region in the central Arizona corridor between Tucson and Phoenix where Global Water recently received a CC&N permit from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to exclusively provide water, wastewater, and recycled water services.

“The close proximity of the Nikola site to our new service area makes it a logical extension of our regional footprint,” stated Global Water Resources president and CEO, Ron Fleming. “Nikola and others in the region will benefit from our proactive approach to utility management, which includes our award-winning Total Water Management.”

“As one of the first major manufacturers to locate to Inland Port Arizona, we expect their development to stimulate commercial and residential growth in our surrounding service area,” added Fleming. “Based upon Nikola’s schedule, we expect to begin servicing the manufacturing site in 2021.”

About Nikola Corporation
Nikola Corporation is globally transforming the transportation industry. As a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission battery-electric and hydrogen-electric vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, vehicle components, energy storage systems, and hydrogen station infrastructure, Nikola is driven to revolutionize the economic and environmental impact of commerce as we know it today. Founded in 2015, Nikola Corporation is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. For more information, visit www.nikolamotor.com or Twitter @nikolamotor.

About Global Water Resources
Global Water Resources, Inc. is a leading water resource management company that owns and operates 16 utilities which provide water, wastewater, and recycled water services. The company’s service areas are located primarily in growth corridors around metropolitan Phoenix. Global Water recycles nearly 1 billion gallons of water annually. To learn more, visit www.gwresources.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain forward-looking statements which reflect the company's expectations regarding future events. The forward-looking statements involve a number of assumptions, risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future net income growth, our strategy, acquisition plans, our dividend policy, the timing and likelihood of approval of the certificate of convenience and necessity for the Inland Port project and the anticipated benefits, trends relating to population growth, active service connections, regulated revenue, housing permit projections, the development of residential and commercial properties within our service areas, the anticipated impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic on the company, including to our business operations, results of operations, cash flows, and financial position, and our future responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other statements that are not historical facts as well as statements identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "plans", "believes", "seeks", "estimates", or the negative of these terms, or other words of similar meaning. These statements are based on our current beliefs or expectations and are inherently subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in political, economic, business, market, regulatory, and other factors, including the duration and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the actions to contain the virus or treat its impact. Accordingly, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s views as of the date hereof. Factors that may affect future results are disclosed under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which are available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. This includes, but is not limited to, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, and subsequent filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, except as required by law, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Nikola Contact:
Nicole Rose
nicole.rose@nikolamotor.com
Tel (480) 660-6893
Email contact

Global Water Resources Contact:
Michael J. Liebman
SVP and CFO
Tel (480) 999-5104
mike.liebman@gwresources.com        

Investor Relations Contact for Global Water Resources:
Ron Both or Grant Stude
CMA Investor Relations
Tel (949) 432-7566
GWRS@cma.team