The Obama administration is well past its transition period, and -- in case anyone missed the news earlier this week -- the Edison Electric Institute is making a transition of its own.
One might have thought EEI at something of a disadvantage in this super-Democratic administration and Congress. Longtime EEI President Tom Kuhn was a big Bush backer, a "Pioneer" who raised at least $100,000 for George W. Bush. But EEI, facing what Kuhn accurately called "a time of virtually unprecedented challenge and opportunity," has made what might be a really brilliant move. It has brought on board someone from the really very close-in ranks of House Democratic leadership.
Brian Wolff, executive director of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, will start next month to head EEI's governmental affairs and communications, as a senior vice president. Besides directing the DCCC, he also has been political director for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
"Brian has been a trusted adviser to me, as well as a dear friend, and I know he will remain an invaluable resource to me and my colleagues," Pelosi said in a prepared statement. EEI most surely hopes so.
A blog at politico.com last year said:
Wolff played a key role in Pelosi’s rise to power in the House: The two began plotting in 1998 how Pelosi, then an up-and-comer from San Francisco, could raise the money she would need to claim a place in the Democratic leadership. In addition to serving as the DCCC’s executive director, Wolff is also Pelosi’s political director: If you want the speaker to appear at a dinner or a fundraiser, or if you need her endorsement or her money, you’ve got to go through Wolff first.
All in all, Pelosi said in the blog article, "Brian is the full package ... He cares deeply about the issues. He knows a lot about them. He is a policy person who has been willing to work on the political side to achieve policy goals."
Kuhn said in a statement this week that EEI believes "this realignment will help strengthen our issue management process and our advocacy efforts to meet our growing opportunities and challenges." Think CO2 allowance allocations, renewables mandates, transmission planning, tax issues. Wolff's presence could hardly hurt, and who knows what effect he will have on EEI positions.
Frank O'Donnell of Clean Air Watch kindly stated the obvious in explaining the move: "This is obviously part of the electric power industry strategy to build bridges to Democratic lawmakers in order to help shape climate and other key energy legislation."
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