Aries Taps Operations Chief for CEO to Steer Key Environmental Projects

FRANKLIN, TN – April 29, 2026 – Aries Clean Technologies, a company at the forefront of tackling municipal waste challenges, has named longtime operations leader Kari Mueller as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment, effective immediately, signals a strategic focus on execution as the company navigates the development of two major clean infrastructure projects.

Mueller, who previously served as Senior Vice President of Operations, succeeds Jon Cozens. Cozens will transition to an advisory role after a tenure that saw the company achieve significant technology validation and strategic positioning. The leadership change emphasizes continuity, with Aries remaining committed to its proposed biosolids gasification facility in Sanford, Maine, and the redevelopment of its plant in Linden, New Jersey. Both projects are central to the company’s mission to provide solutions for managing municipal biosolids and destroying hazardous “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

A Transition Rooted in Operational Depth

Mueller’s promotion from within is a clear endorsement of her deep operational expertise. With over 25 years of experience in renewable energy, clean infrastructure, and finance, she has been a central figure in Aries' project execution and technical management. Her background includes a tenure as Director of Asset Management at Mura Technology, where she co-led an advanced plastic recycling project, managing everything from permitting to public engagement for the first-of-a-kind facility.

This experience is critical for a company like Aries, whose success hinges on deploying complex, patented gasification technology in real-world settings. Outgoing CEO Jon Cozens highlighted Mueller's integral role in a statement. "Kari has been at the center of this company's work from the start," he said. "She knows the technology, the projects, the team, and what it takes to deliver. The Board and I have full confidence in her leadership."

Mueller affirmed the company’s direction would remain steady. "Our priorities and commitments are unchanged," she stated. "We are focused on advancing Sanford, redeveloping Linden, and continuing to be a transparent and responsive partner to the communities and stakeholders we work with."

The move was also supported by key investors. "Kari has been central to Aries' operational execution for years, and her leadership through this transition reflects exactly the kind of focus and continuity we look for in our portfolio companies," said Nikhil Garg, General Partner and Co-founder of Spring Lane Capital, a primary investor in Aries.

The High-Stakes Project in Sanford, Maine

The most immediate and visible challenge for the new CEO is the proposed $180 million facility in Sanford, Maine. Aries submitted permit applications to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in January 2026 for the plant, which is designed to process up to 400 tons of biosolids per day. If approved, construction could begin in early 2027, with a target opening in the fall of 2028.

The project aims to address a statewide crisis that began in 2022 when Maine banned the land application of sludge due to widespread PFAS contamination. Aries' gasification technology claims to reduce biosolids volume by 95% and destroy up to 99% of PFAS, offering what local officials, including the Sanford Sewer District Superintendent, hope will be an environmentally sound solution that could save ratepayers money.

However, the proposal has been met with significant local resistance. Public forums have been contentious, with residents voicing strong concerns about potential air pollution, odors, and the unproven nature of the PFAS destruction claims on a commercial scale. Protest groups like the Sanford Clean Air and Water Coalition have demanded third-party validation of the company's scientific assertions. The Maine DEP has confirmed it is reviewing the permit applications but has not yet evaluated the company's specific claims regarding PFAS destruction rates.

Lessons from Linden and the Path Forward

Mueller's operational acumen will also be applied to the company's existing facility in Linden, New Jersey. The Aries Linden Biosolids Gasification Plant, which achieved mechanical completion in 2021, was hailed as the largest of its kind in the world. Financed in part by $50 million in "Green" tax-exempt bonds, the plant was designed to process 430 tons of biosolids daily.

Despite its ambitious launch, the facility operated for only a couple of years before being shut down for significant reengineering. As of early 2026, the company was focused on replacing the plant's dryers, with no firm timeline for its operational resumption. Aries has framed this experience as providing crucial "lessons learned" that have directly informed and improved the design for the proposed Sanford facility.

Under Mueller, the company maintains its commitment to the "ongoing redevelopment" of the Linden site, with a stated focus on ensuring long-term operational readiness and regulatory compliance. The ability to successfully bring the Linden plant back online will be a key test of the company's technical and operational capabilities under its new leadership.

Navigating a Complex Environmental Market

Aries operates in a rapidly evolving market driven by mounting environmental pressures. The challenge of managing municipal biosolids is growing, and the discovery of PFAS contamination has rendered traditional disposal methods like landfilling and land application increasingly untenable. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is heightening its scrutiny, having published a draft risk assessment in early 2025 that flagged potential health risks from PFAS in sewage sludge, signaling a future of tighter regulation.

This regulatory landscape is fueling a booming market for PFAS destruction technologies, which is projected to grow from $2.7 billion in 2025 to $8.0 billion by 2036. Aries' gasification process, which not only destroys contaminants but also reduces waste volume and produces a beneficial biochar product, positions it as a potential multi-faceted solution. As CEO, Mueller's task will be to steer the company through this complex intersection of public concern, regulatory uncertainty, and immense market opportunity, proving that its technology can deliver on its promises safely and effectively.