Graham Beck

My focus

Public Power

Much of my work involves assisting municipalities and joint action agencies in their issuance of tax-exempt debt to finance the construction and rehabilitation of hydroelectric, biofuel, wind, and coal-burning electric generation facilities. I also assist municipalities in fulfilling their long-term energy needs through prepayment for natural gas and electricity, as well as renewable electricity supplies, to pass those savings along to their ratepayers.

Education

Some of my favorite projects include working with California’s K–12, school districts, charter schools, and community college districts to finance the construction and rehabilitation of schools to better meet the needs of their students and the community. I have assisted multiple educational agencies through the election process to win voter approval for their bond issuances and have experience with a variety of financing options available to California school districts, including bonds authorized under Proposition 39 and the traditional authority, Mello-Roos financings, certificates of participation and lease revenue bonds, TRANs, and other financing mechanisms.

Disclosure

As disclosure counsel or underwriters’ counsel, I provide strategic advice to municipalities, school and special districts, national and regional investment banking firms underwriting municipal bonds, and others to assist in meeting compliance with SEC and MSRB rules and regulations, including the disclosure requirements of federal securities laws.

Looking ahead

The adoption of the Inflation Reduction Act has opened up unprecedented opportunities for public power agencies and other public utilities. The tax incentives it provides will allow utilities to own renewable energy projects and finally take advantage of the incentives that have historically only been available to private entities. The Public Power Group at Nixon Peabody is working hand in hand with our Tax Credit Group to assist public utilities in navigating these new direct-pay credits for the benefit of their ratepayers and customers.