Client Alerts
Storing Up Certainty: IRS Expands the 45Q Safe Harbor
On August 14, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued its Notice 2026-50 (the “2026 45Q SH Notice”), which expands …
August 17, 2026
August 17, 2026 • 3-minute read
Partner
Tax
“Renewable projects and business models involve complex technologies, counter-parties, and tax structures. I provide tax counsel on both the tax equity and project developer side to help clients navigate these challenges. I particularly enjoy working closely with my clients to adapt traditional project development and finance methods to suit their unique business models and close on their financing transactions.”
Lauren Collins focuses on tax matters related to project finance, with an emphasis on renewable energy and infrastructure assets. Lauren has represented clients in the financing, disposition, acquisition, and development of renewable energy and energy transition projects, including solar, wind, energy storage, hydrogen, carbon sequestration, fuel cell, biogas, RNG, and manufacturing facilities, among others. She has considerable experience utilizing a variety of structures to finance these assets and has helped develop some of the most complex and cutting-edge renewable energy financing transactions in the U.S., including numerous first-of-its-kind deals.
In the course of her practice, Lauren represents Fortune 50 companies, investors, utilities, sponsors, and developers in the renewable energy space and has advised clients more broadly in connection with various federal and state tax matters. Her experience includes tax equity, tax credit finance and sales, M&A, reorganizations and bankruptcy, project finance, and structured finance.
Lauren is ranked Band 3 by Chambers Global 2026 and Chambers USA 2025 in Projects: Renewables & Alternative Energy. She is also recognized by Chambers USA 2025 Tax California: Southern in Band 4, where one client notes “Lauren is a pleasure to work with; she has a very strong knowledge base and is helpful in thinking through complex issues.”
Swift Current Energy in the ~$700 million debt financing, ~$250 million tax equity financing, and ~$270 million ITC transfers for the 800 MWdc Double Black Diamond Solar project in Illinois, which is expected to be the second largest single phase solar project in the US and the largest solar project in MISO
Fortune 500 company in the purchase of approximately $86.4 million of 45X manufacturing credits from a manufacturer of battery cells
Major financial institution in connection with its tax equity commitment in a 200 MW solar project in Milam County, Texas, including a first of its kind financing commitment for the Domestic Content Bonus
Vitol Inc. in a landmark tax credit transfer agreement with Avangrid, Inc. to purchase an estimated $100 million of wind PTCs
Major U.S. financial institution in connection with sale of $250 million of investment tax credits to various corporate buyers
Tax equity investor in their investment in two solar projects with 450 MW combined capacity in California
Tax equity investor in its approximately $320 million commitment to a portfolio of two solar projects in Arizona and Virginia totaling 355 MW and including 100 MW of storage, representing one of the first tax equity financings of a battery energy storage asset for this investor
Swift Current in the construction debt and tax equity financing of a 195 MW solar project in Texas
Terra-Gen in the approximately $270 million construction financing and $136 million tax equity financing for the 64.5 MW Tehachapi Plains, 60.3 MW Oasis Power, and 14.4 MW Oasis Alta wind generation facilities in Kern County, California, and the 61.2 MW Coachella and 46.8 MW Painted Hills wind generation facilities in Riverside County, California
MN8 Energy in the acquisition and tax equity financing of the 150 MW solar-plus-storage High Desert Solar Project in San Bernardino County, California
Brookfield Renewable Power in the approximately $1 billion acquisition of Scout Clean Energy from Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners
Brookfield Renewable Power in its investment of up to $500 million in California Bioenergy, a leading developer of dairy digesters for generating renewable vehicle fuel and electricity
Numerous tax equity investors in their initial investments in utility scale wind, solar, and storage projects including—with respect to solar and storage—commercial, industrial, and residential assets, utilizing partnership flip transactions, sale leaseback, and inverted lease structures
Tax equity investor in its investment in a portfolio of three utility scale solar photovoltaic projects in Texas, Colorado, and Vermont with nameplate capacities of 30 MW, 19.59 MW, and 50 MW, respectively
MN8 Energy in connection with the acquisition from Recurrent Energy and the development, debt and term financing of a 300MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plus 140.25MW/561MWh storage project in California. The project will sell power pursuant to 5 separate power purchase agreements, 4 of which include energy storage
JPM Capital Corporation in its approximately $160 million equity commitment to develop the approximately 126 MW Timber Road IV Wind Farm Project in Paulding County, Ohio, and the approximately 50.4 MW Los Mirasoles II Wind Farm Project in Hidalgo and Starr Counties, Texas
Tax equity investor in the $185 million tax equity investment and lender in a $60 million loan to repower three wind generation facilities in Texas totaling 546MW, each being developed by one of the largest renewable energy project developers in the U.S.
Tax equity investor in its approximately $350 million tax equity commitment in a 485 MW solar project in Virginia, which is the largest solar facility east of the Rocky Mountains
Residential solar project developer in tax equity financings with multiple tax equity sources, major equipment procurement contracts, and related strategic advice regarding growth strategies
Terra-Gen in the approximately $250 million construction financing and $170 million tax equity financing for the 193.5MW Voyager Wind II Project in Kern County, California, and the 32.7MW Texas Big Spring Project in Big Spring, Texas
Wells Fargo in their tax equity investment to construct the 145 MW Aragonne Mesa Wind Project and to repower the 90 MW Aragonne Wind Project, both in Guadalupe County, New Mexico
Monolith, 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
Wind turbine manufacturer and solar project inverter manufacturer in connection with each of their sales of IRA manufacturing credits
Various sponsors and developers in domestic content and energy community qualification analysis and preparation of related tax opinions and memorandums
Preparation of comments to Treasury and other stakeholder comments relating to various Inflation Reduction Act matters on behalf of investors, sponsors, developers, and trade associations
Negotiation of tax insurance policies covering tax risks relating to the Inflation Reduction Act
8 Rivers Capital in its joint venture with ADM to develop the 280 MW Broadwing Clean Energy Complex in Illinois, one of the world’s first zero emissions Allam-Fetvedt cycle power plants, including CO2 storage capabilities
8 Rivers Capital in its joint venture with The Southern Ute Indian Tribe Growth Fund to develop the 280 MW Coyote Clean Power Project in Colorado, one of the world’s first zero-emissions NET Power natural gas-fired power plants, including CO2 capture and storage capabilities
MN8 Energy in connection with the acquisition from Recurrent Energy and the development, debt and term financing of a 300MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plus 140.25MW/561MWh storage project in California. The project will sell power pursuant to 5 separate power purchase agreements, 4 of which include energy storage
Private equity fund in a $150 million debut joint venture with a solar developer to acquire and develop community solar and other eligible renewable projects
Education
Admissions
Client Alerts
Storing Up Certainty: IRS Expands the 45Q Safe Harbor
On August 14, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued its Notice 2026-50 (the “2026 45Q SH Notice”), which expands …
August 17, 2026
August 17, 2026 • 3-minute read
Events
Vinson & Elkins Sponsoring and Speaking at the SEIA Finance, Tax, and Buyers Seminar
Vinson & Elkins is sponsoring the SEIA Finance, Tax, and Buyers Seminar, taking place June 23 – 24 in New …
June 23, 2026
June 23, 2026 • 1-minute read
Client Alerts
5% Safe Harbor Resurrected for Wind and Solar (At Least for Now)
On Saturday, June 6, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (the “District Court”) vacated Internal Revenue …
June 8, 2026
June 8, 2026 • 2-minute read
Articles
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 introduced the Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit under section 48E of the Code[1] (the …
May 15, 2026
May 15, 2026 • 5-minute read
Events
Lauren Collins Speaking at PLI’s Tax Planning Seminar
Partner Lauren Collins will speak at PLI’s Tax Planning for Domestic & Foreign Partnerships, LLCs, Joint Ventures & Other Strategic …
April 15, 2026
April 15, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Represents Albioma on Investment in Altamaha Green Energy, LLC
Vinson & Elkins represented Albioma US Holdings LLC (“Albioma”), a portfolio company of KKR Infrastructure, in its acquisition of a …
September 30, 2026
September 30, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins represented NextEra Energy, Inc in securing a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loan guarantee of up to …
September 9, 2026
September 9, 2026 • 1-minute read
Deals & Cases
Vinson & Elkins Represents EPC Power on $4.4 Billion Sale to Flex
Vinson & Elkins LLP represented EPC Power Corp. and its controlling shareholders, Goldman Sachs Alternatives and Cleanhill Partners, in its …
September 4, 2026
September 4, 2026 • 1-minute read
Media Coverage
Lauren Collins and Jenny Speck Discuss Renewable Energy Tax Credit Deadline in Bloomberg Law
Vinson & Elkins Partners Lauren Collins and Jenny Speck were featured in Bloomberg Law’s Big Law Business column examining the …
July 8, 2026
July 8, 2026 • 1-minute read
Awards & Rankings
The Legal 500 US 2026 recommended Vinson & Elkins as a leading law firm in 47 practice categories. In total, …
June 10, 2026
June 10, 2026 • 3-minute read
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