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Mackinlee Rogers

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Mackinlee assists with regulatory analysis for corporate transactions, primarily in the energy sector.

Mackinlee always knew a legal career would be a perfect fit for her logical, analytical mind. A problem solver who thrives on collaboration, she was drawn to corporate and transactional work, and she loves the challenge of assembling the puzzle pieces of a perfect deal.

During both her undergraduate and law school years, Mackinlee interned with a renewable energy company which worked with investors and developers to maximize the economics of renewable energy projects. The experience fostered a passion for renewable energy as Mackinlee served on developer’s and investor’s counsel teams for wind farm acquisitions and solar photovoltaic systems. She’s eager to work in the industry in the midst of the ongoing energy transition, and she’s excited to watch the development of renewable energy forms over the course of her career.

Prior to joining the firm as a full associate, Mackinlee spent a season as a summer associate assisting the renewable energy team with transactional work. She was especially enthusiastic about the national scope of Husch Blackwell’s practice and about the opportunity to collaborate with attorneys across the country. Today, Mackinlee handles the regulatory aspects of transaction due diligence for energy projects and is building a reputation as a trustworthy, hard-working professional who gets the job done.

On February 16, 2023, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) issued an order approving two extreme cold weather reliability standards: EOP-011-3 (Emergency Operations) and EOP-012-1 (Extreme Cold Weather Preparedness and Operations) proposed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (“NERC”), subject to modification.[1] The approved Reliability Standards help to maintain reliable operation of the Bulk Power System by ensuring that enough generating units will be available during a cold weather event. According to FERC, the proposed Reliability Standards EOP-011-3 and EOP-012-1 are improvements to the existing Reliability Standards, but NERC must address additional concerns such as ambiguity, applicability, and compliance timelines. NERC is directed to submit modifications within twelve months.

After nearly a decade, the Texas Attorney General and the New Mexico Attorney General announced in October 2022 that Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado had reached an agreement over the distribution of water from the Rio Grande; however, the details of the agreement, which is in the form of a proposed Consent Decree, were not known until January 23, 2023. Though the Department of Justice opposes it, the proposed Consent Decree will likely be approved by the appointed Special Master and ultimately forwarded to the U.S. Supreme Court for approval.

On November 3, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued three notices (“November 3 Notices”) requesting public input on the climate and clean energy incentives contained in the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”). The November 3 Notices request comments by December 2, 2022, on the amendments, extensions, and enhancements of the IRA’s energy tax benefits. The November 3 Notices follow an initial set of six notices that were issued by the IRS on October 5, 2022 to seek public input on other aspects of the energy tax incentives contained in the IRA.

In 2020, New Mexico voters approved a Constitutional Amendment changing the PRC from five elected commissioners to three appointed commissioners. Historically, PRC commissioners were elected to serve four-year staggered terms; however, beginning January 1, 2023, PRC commissioners will be appointed to serve staggered six-year terms.…