2023 Cleantech Panelist Speaker
Michael Goldman
Department Head, Project Finance, Infrastructure and Real EstateNixon Peabody LLP
Biography
Michael Goldman is a transactional lawyer and trusted advisor who primarily counsels clients in connection with structuring, negotiating and closing investments that generate federal and state tax credits.
My practice is concentrated in the fields of energy tax credits (ETCs), new markets tax credits (NMTCs) and historic rehabilitation tax credits (HTCs).
With respect to my work in the ETC space, I primarily work with investors, syndicators and developers in connection with the financing of solar facilities throughout the country. Additionally, I have assisted clients with the financing of wind, biomass and fuel cell facilities. In a number of instances, we successfully negotiated financings that combined ETCs with NMTCs.
With respect to my work in the NMTC space, I work with investors, lenders, community development entities and “qualified active low-income community businesses” to leverage NMTC financing and support community revitalization efforts nationwide. I have worked on a wide range of transactions that have benefitted dozens of low-income communities throughout the United States with investment dollars building businesses and physical structures including educational facilities, grocery stores, hospitals, theatres, retail centers, for-sale housing, museums, rehabilitation centers, and solar and wind farms.
Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, I worked in the Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Chief Counsel (Passthroughs & Special Industries), concentrating on tax shelters, partnerships, subchapter S corporations and passive activity losses. Prior to working for the IRS, I clerked for Judge Michael B. Thornton at the United States Tax Court.
Over the years, I have been a frequent speaker at industry conferences regarding ETCs, NMTCs and the Section 1603 grants-in-lieu-of-energy tax credits program. While working for the IRS, among other things, I was the principal author of Revenue Ruling 2003-20, which provides the safe harbor for leveraging NMTC investments.