Titus Low Carbon Ventures, LLC
Sustainable Energy Solutions for Tomorrow
Titus LCV is a leading developer of utility-scale clean energy projects across the United States. Our mission is to foster positive economic growth and create sustainable energy solutions through investments in renewable power generation.
Pioneering Innovations
With over five decades of combined industry experience, our team has an unparalleled track record of pioneering innovations and "firsts" in the clean energy sector.
- The first Texas Gulf Coast wind project
- The first dynamically scheduled inter-state power purchase agreement
- The first wind power project on Native American lands in the U.S.
Empowering Sustainable Growth
At Titus LCV, we are dedicated to delivering positive results, profitable partnerships, and sustainable solutions that create lasting value. Our personalized energy solutions help partners reduce costs, achieve sustainability goals, maximize financial returns, and secure a reliable source of renewable power.
We encourage collaboration with local communities, providing job opportunities, annual revenue from land leases and property taxes, and economic development. Our efforts bring renewable energy projects to fruition while empowering the growth of the communities we serve.
Proven Expertise
Titus LCV stays at the forefront of clean energy research to offer our partners the latest efficient technologies across solar, wind, energy storage, and hybrid solutions. With a commercialization success rate over double the industry average, our team has enabled:
From early-stage development through construction and operations, Titus LCV provides comprehensive services backed by solid financing and expertise to maximize returns with minimal risk.
Our Team
Marshall Hickey
CEO
Marshall Hickey is a respected and successful entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry. He has achieved an impressive level of success in the Delaware Basin Subregion of the Permian Basin with his pivotal role as a founder and CEO of Titus Oil & Gas, LLC. Under Hickey's leadership, the company produces 9,000 net barrels of oil equivalent per day and operates two drilling rigs, all while carrying zero debt. Before launching Titus, he worked with EnCap Investments and Marathon Oil Company in various engineering roles. Hickey obtained a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering with honors from the University of Texas and an MBA from Rice University. His business acumen and understanding of the energy industry, including his research into renewable and low-carbon power sources, led him to partner with Mr. Jeff Ferguson.
Jeff Ferguson
President
Jeff Ferguson is an accomplished senior executive with a versatile background composed of experience in the clean energy and conventional power industries. His expertise has been integral in projects generating more than $2.5 billion in capital investment, including the sale of two clean energy project portfolios which each yielded returns of more than 4 times the investment. Notably, Ferguson has been responsible for leading the development and financing of clean energy projects in the South-Southeast United States for more than 10 years with Apex Clean Energy. His understanding of commercial driving forces enables him to identify projects with a high success rate of commercialization. Prior to his current role, he held senior executive positions with Element Markets, Superior Renewable Energy, and Reliant Energy Renewables, making notable milestones such as developing the first-ever utility-scale wind farm on Native American lands, originating the first dynamically scheduled utility-scale wind farm in New Mexico and developing the first utility-scale wind farm off the Texas Gulf Coast. Ferguson holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M and a Master's in Engineering Management from Southern Methodist University.
Zach Gerland
CFO
Zach Gerland is an accomplished finance executive with over 15 years of experience spanning private equity, investment banking, and C-suite leadership roles across the energy, infrastructure, real estate, and technology sectors. As Chief Financial Officer at Titus LCV, Zach oversees all financial strategy, capital management, and investment activities, driving the company's growth and operational excellence. Before joining Titus LCV, Zach served as Director of Investments at Greening US, where he led investment and asset management initiatives and played a key role in capital raising and strategic financial planning. His career includes senior positions at leading firms such as Castlelake, North Hudson Resource Partners, and Noble Royalties, Inc., where he managed complex M&A transactions, structured financings, and oversaw accounting and treasury operations. Zach has managed executive-level operations for companies with a collective enterprise value of $3.5 billion and has been instrumental in closing over $6 billion in M&A transactions and raising $13 billion in capital. His expertise encompasses equity and debt investments, corporate strategy, investor relations, audits, tax, and business development.
Karl P. Richter
Senior Vice President of Land
Karl P. Richter is the Senior Vice President of Land for Titus LCV LLC and a Certified Professional Landman (CPL) with over 40 years of experience combined in the upstream, midstream and downstream segments of the energy industry. Richter has an extensive background, having most recently been involved in a venture that assembled a substantial lease block for horizontal drilling and midstream gathering in the heart of the Midland Basin. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Petroleum Land Management from the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. Richter is a member of various professional associations, such as the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), the Permian Basin Landman's Association (PBLA), the Houston Association of Professional Landmen (HAPL), and the Board of Visitors for The University of Texas McDonald's Observatory. He has served on committees such as the University of Texas – Center for Continuing Legal Education – Advisory Committee – Wind and Renewable Conference, as well as the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) Natural Gas Advisory Committee (Member 1984-1990).
Micah Nichols
Sr. Director of Engineering
Micah Nichols has a rich background in project management, consulting, and senior management roles, contributing to the success of projects throughout the United States. He is a renewable energy professional with 19 years of management experience, supporting over 1GW of wind development, 1GW of wind construction and 1GW of solar development. His management capabilities include managing large scale (100-300MW) construction projects, running interconnects for new projects, supporting design, engineering, financial analysis, due diligence and permitting on solar, wind and BESS. He is currently supporting Caprock with interconnection, engineering and construction planning. Micah has worked with clients such as EDF Renewables, Golden Spread Electric Coop, Samsung Heavy Industries, Longroad Energy, Lightsource Energy, Engie, Caprock Renewables, Tesla, Liberty Utilities, Excel Energy, State of Colorado, the Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratory, the BLM, and the Department of Homeland Security.
Jason McDonald
Sr. Director of Project Management
Jason McDonald is an accomplished energy project developer, engineer, and asset manager with over two decades of experience leading large-scale renewable energy initiatives across North America. As Senior Director of Project Management at Titus LCV, Jason brings a proven track record in the successful development, execution, and optimization of wind and solar projects. Prior to joining Titus LCV, Jason held a series of senior leadership roles at BP, where he most recently served as Sr. Appraisal Engineer for Offshore Wind (New Energy), leading technical and front-end verification efforts for major offshore wind projects and building central offshore wind capabilities. His tenure at BP also included roles as Lead Development Engineer, Project Engineer, and Asset Manager for BP Wind Energy, where he managed a 585 MW portfolio of ERCOT wind assets, directed multi-million dollar optimization programs, and led the engineering and development of new wind projects from concept through execution. Jason's career also includes leadership positions at International Power (GDF Suez N.A.), Element Markets, Ignite Solar, Babcock & Brown, Superior Renewable Energy, and Cielo Wind Power. He has overseen the development of more than 1,000 MW of renewable energy projects, including the landmark 283 MW Gulf Wind Project—the first on the Texas Gulf Coast.
Lexie Rendon
Director of Administration
Lexie Rendon is an accomplished Director of Administration bringing over a decade of experience in the renewable energy industry. She plays a critical role in streamlining administrative and land-related processes for project development. She brings a sharp operational lens to every stage of project execution, from land origination to incentive strategy, specializing in land acquisition, title research, and local tax incentive programs. Lexie has successfully facilitated the leasing of more than 90,000 acres for wind, solar, and battery energy storage projects—primarily within the ERCOT market—and has secured local tax incentives for over 30 clean energy initiatives. Her contributions have directly supported the commercialization of over 1.5 GW of wind, solar, and battery energy storage projects helping drive the transition to a more sustainable grid. She holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley.
Joe Villarreal
Director of Development
Joe Villarreal is the Director of Development for Titus LCV LLC and has 9+ years of development experience in the energy sector. His efforts in Renewable development have led to the commercialization of over 700 megawatts of wind and solar in Wisconsin, Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Texas. Villarreal has also negotiated land agreements of over 60,000 acres and over 20 miles of transmission right of way. Before joining the Titus LCV LLC team, Joe worked at EDP Renewables North America as a Project Manager supporting the development of solar and wind projects in the MISO, WECC, and ERCOT regions. Villarreal obtained a Bachelor of Administration with honors from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and a Master's in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems from Penn State University.
Aria Linares
GIS Analyst
Aria Linares is a GIS Analyst for Titus LCV and has over three years of portfolio siting experience for renewable energy development. Before joining the Titus team, Aria worked at Plug Power as a GIS Analyst and helped build out the GIS platform for nationwide green hydrogen prospecting and project development. Prior to Plug Power, Aria was a GIS Analyst for Enel Green Power, and specialized in providing land leasehold and interconnection intelligence to aid in wind and solar portfolio siting optimization. Before pivoting her cartography skill set towards renewables, Aria came from a petroleum geology background and assisted in the technical evaluation and acquisition of mineral rights in the Permian Basin. Aria holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Geology with honors from the University of Oklahoma, a Master of Science (MS) in Geology from Kansas State University, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Oklahoma City University. Aria is a co-author for two publications on 3D seismic reflection amplitudes for hydrocarbon lithofacies in Pure & Applied Geophysics.
Courtney McReynolds
Manager of Business Development
At Titus LCV, Courtney supports business development and commercial strategy for utility-scale solar and battery storage projects across the Southern and Southeastern U.S., with active focus in MISO South, SERC/SOCO, and ERCOT markets. Her role centers on identifying and advancing commercial opportunities—from responding to RFPs and structuring offtake concepts to engaging with utilities, corporates, data center counterparties, and strategic partners. She works closely with internal development, legal, and executive teams to align project capabilities with market demand and counterparty requirements. Courtney brings a strong development foundation into business development, allowing her to evaluate opportunities with a practical lens around land control, permitting risk, interconnection status, tax abatements, and overall project readiness. This helps ensure that commercial pursuits are realistic, well-structured, and executable. Previously, Courtney helped secure land control on 60,000+ acres for renewable and energy storage projects and managed multiple assets through early and mid-stage development. That experience continues to inform her work today bridging development realities with commercial strategy.
Sophia Ledbetter
Project Manager
Sophia Ledbetter is a Project Manager with Titus Low Carbon Ventures, bringing over five years of renewable energy development experience and a diverse professional background rooted in education, relationship management, and strategic project execution. She specializes in advancing utility-scale renewable energy projects, with experience spanning solar, battery energy storage systems, wind, and hybrid energy projects across SERC, MISO and ERCOT. Here at Titus LCV, Sophia is focused on successful development of renewable and innovative energy projects that deliver long-term value to landowners, communities, utilities, and customers while supporting the continued expansion of America's energy infrastructure. Before entering the renewable energy industry, Sophia spent ten years as an educator, teaching across multiple disciplines including Algebra I, Geometry, Special Education Reading and Writing, and Elementary Education, while also serving as an educational consultant. She holds a Master's degree in Teaching, and her background in education shaped her collaborative leadership style, analytical thinking, and ability to communicate complex concepts clearly - skills that continue to serve her throughout the project development process.
