Jenny Speck
Texas Tower
845 Texas Avenue
Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
Jenny Speck advises clients on the qualification for and the monetization of energy transition tax incentives. She has worked on a range of energy transition projects, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, combined heat and power, biogas property, carbon capture, hydrogen and clean fuel credit projects.
She has firsthand knowledge of the carbon capture industry, having served as the senior manager of tax and regulatory compliance at Navigator CO2 Ventures LLC from April 2022 through October 2023. At Navigator, Jenny led all aspects of tax qualification, utilization and reporting compliance for federal income energy tax credits and served as Navigator’s sole liaison with the US Department of Energy. She was recruited and served as an independent Merit Reviewer of the Department of Energy loan program for carbon capture and storage demonstration projects.
Jenny also provides tax advice on traditional purchase agreements, including the sale and purchase of tax credits, joint ventures, financings and other general transactional work.
Experience Highlights
Midstream infrastructure company in all aspects of tax qualification, utilization, and reporting compliance for federal income energy tax credits and sustainability incentives; served as sole liaison with the Department of Energy and led the preparation of internal and external educational materials for various federal loan and grant programs related to carbon capture, transportation and sequestration; and drafted and submitted comment letters to the US Treasury and the IRS for federal income energy tax credits
Private equity firm in advice on existing portfolio, including qualification for the investment tax credit and production tax credit, and tax equity considerations; advised on federal income tax credit considerations for future carbon capture and sequestration projects and hydrogen projects
Multinational energy company in advice on beginning of construction strategy and program of construction strategy for offshore wind farm projects to qualify for the investment tax credit, including reviewing EPC agreements, discussing eligible components, analyzing the single project rules under the investment tax credit and drafting comment letter and meetings with the IRS on eligible components of a qualified facility as it relates to offshore wind compared to onshore wind
Various buyers in separate tax credit transfer transactions collectively valued at over $500 million
Various sponsors and developers in domestic content, low income community, and energy community qualification analysis
Various clients in the negotiation of project agreements in respect of qualification for and monetization of Inflation Reduction Act tax credits
Developers and trade associations in preparation of comments to Treasury and other stakeholder comments relating to various Inflation Reduction Act matters
A green hydrogen project developer in tax credit advice and representation in connection with its qualification for and monetization of IRA hydrogen project tax credits
Various clients in negotiation of tax insurance policies covering tax risks relating to the Inflation Reduction Act
Multinational energy company in advice on existing projects and future projects regarding its continuous efforts strategy, including drafting tax opinions, reviewing EPC for compliance with the investment tax credit and negotiating with the EPC and subcontractors to ensure agreements complied with the investment tax credit requirements
Multinational energy company in advice on offshore wind project beginning of construction strategy and continuous efforts strategy, including drafting tax opinions, reviewing EPC for compliance with the investment tax credit and negotiating with the EPC and subcontractors to ensure agreements complied with the investment tax credit requirements
Privately held multinational conglomerate in advice on 45Q credit for carbon sequestration projects where the client had previously claimed the credit, which was under review by the IRS; assisted with tax planning strategies for future carbon capture and utilization projects and carbon capture and sequestration projects, including whether additional capital expenditures incurred would be eligible for a new credit period under Section 45Q
Multinational e-commerce company in advice on eligibility to claim an investment tax credit on hydrogen fuel cell operated forklift and the associated hydrogen fueling infrastructure; advised client on electric vehicle tax credit and associated alternative fuel recharging stations for its logistic trucks
Family office in advice on investment to build and operate a business in a Qualified Opportunity Zone
Waste disposal company in advice on potential tax credit qualification for clean electric commercial vehicles; advised on eligibility for the 45Q tax credit on the capture and use of CO2 from landfills
Privately held energy exploration and production company in the calculation of R&D tax credit and Enhanced Oil Recovery tax credit; advised on potential carbon capture and sequestration project, including considerations for the conversion from a Class II to a Class VI well for such project
Global chemical company in advice on carbon capture and utilization project, including the preparation of a life cycle assessment and 80/20 analysis to treat existing equipment as originally placed in service equipment
Multinational industrial gas company in advice on carbon capture and utilization project, including the preparation of a life cycle assessment and 80/20 analysis to treat existing equipment as originally placed in service equipment
Multinational renewable power production company in assistance with offshore wind project, including ITC eligibility, such as beginning of construction strategy and drafting tax opinion on its beginning of construction strategy
Semiconductor manufacturing company in tax controversy services, including responding to Information Document Request on client’s research and development tax credit claim
Credentials
- University of Tulsa College of Law, J.D., 2012
- Northeastern State University, B.F.A., 2010
- Senior Manager of Tax and Regulatory Compliance, Navigator CO2 Ventures LLC, 2022-2023
- MDP Tax Manager Washington National Tax, Deloitte, 2018-2021
- Legal 500 U.S., US Taxes – Non-Contentious, 2024
- Houston Business Journal, Women Who Mean Business, 2024
- Houston Business Journal, 40 Under 40, 2024
- Lawdragon 500 Leading US Energy Lawyers, Energy Transition Incentives, 2024
- Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation, Tax, especially Energy, 2024
- Member, The Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center Council
- Merit Reviewer, Department of Energy
- Texas
- InsightOctober 30, 2024
V&E Renewable Energy Update
- Press ReleaseOctober 14, 2024
- “V&E Adds Energy Tax Pro From Bracewell In Houston,” Law360, October 15, 2024
- “Understanding the Implication of IRS IRA Adder Guidance on Tax Equity Deals: Domestic Content, Prevailing Wage & Apprenticeship (PWA), Energy Communities/Low-Income Communities,” Infocast’s Tax Credits & Transferability 2024: Optimizing Post-IRA Opportunities Conference, September 25, 2024 (speaker)
- “CCS/CCUS & The Tax Credit Transfer Market,” Infocast’s CCS/Decarbonization Project Development, Finance & Investment Summit, July 24, 2024 (moderator)
- “Treasury Department and IRS Release Proposed Regulations for Clean Electricity Credits Under Code Sections 45Y and 48E,” client alert, June 4, 2024 (co-author)
- “Tax Credits for Sustainable Aviation Fuel,” American Petroleum Institute 89th Annual Federal Tax Forum, April 24, 2024 (co-speaker)
- “US Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Updates,” 6th Annual University of Houston Law Center Denney L. Wright International Energy Tax Conference, March 22, 2024 (co-speaker)
- “Bio and Renewable Fuels, Hydrogen, and Carbon Capture,” State Bar of Texas Tax Section’s Inaugural Renewable Energy Tax Conference, January 25, 2024 (co-speaker)