DALLAS - The law firm of Gray Reed & McGraw has announced that attorney Michael Cooper was appointed to serve on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Energy Tax Policy Task Force as co-chairman of the Energy Producer Work Group.
The Task Force is composed of CPA's from across the country drawing its members from university faculty, industry and law firms in addition to public accounting. In addition to the Energy Producer Work Group, the Task Force encompasses the Consumer (Conservation) Work Group and the Carbon Tax/Cap and Trade Work Group.
Energy conservation and the use of alternative energy sources are crucial to making the United States more energy independent. The approach the government generally has taken in its energy policy is to rely heavily on tax credits and other incentives to motivate consumer and producer behavior. Unfortunately, these incentives may be unpredictable, inconsistently applied, or overlap. Many commentators have called for replacing this piecemeal approach with a comprehensive policy to promote conservation and the use of alternative energy sources, and to use tax incentives as a vehicle for implementing the policy directions.
The Energy Tax Policy Task Force will: (1) study existing and possible proposed tax incentives that address energy consumption, conservation, production and transmission policy issues; and (2) comment on those incentives from the standpoint of sound tax policy. The Task Force may carry out this charge by responding to executive branch and Congressional proposals as they are made public or by presenting a comprehensive "white paper" on current policy positions and possible alternatives.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to provide a collective perspective on, and engage in the discussion regarding, our nation's energy policy," Cooper said. "The current administration has provided an outline of its intentions with regard to the budget proposals for energy taxes. All of the members of the Task Force look forward to working toward a sound national energy tax policy."
Cooper has significant experience in all aspects of corporate representation, ranging from day-to-day operational issues to major transactions to securities and tax matters. He has represented clients in numerous industries, with the majority of his practice devoted to the highly regulated oil and gas, energy industry. Michael is a Certified Public Accountant and the holder of an advanced degree in taxation, which enables him to evaluate the many aspects of sophisticated business transactions.
About Gray Reed & McGraw
Founded in 1985, Gray Reed & McGraw is a Texas based, full-service law firm with more than 90 lawyers practicing in Houston, Dallas and East Texas, and offers a wide range of legal services including business litigation, corporate transactions, oil & gas, tax planning and litigation, real estate, healthcare, trusts and estates, employment law, family law, and bankruptcy. For more information, visit www.grayreed.com.