Top Dem aide joins utility trade group

Brian Wolff, the executive director of the House Democratic campaign committee and close ally to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), has accepted a top position at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), an investor-owned utility trade group, a source told The Hill.

Wolff joins the group as a senior vice president for external affairs, EEI announced Monday.

{mosads}The hiring surprised some lobbyists on K Street. Like other business groups, EEI has a better relationship with Republicans on Capitol Hill than with Democrats. Its roster of lobbyists counts more Republicans than Democrats, and the group is run by Tom Kuhn, a major GOP donor. Even though Democrats have controlled Congress since 2006, EEI’s PAC still gives more heavily to Republicans. In 2008, it donated $163,290 to Democrats, but $201,460 to Republicans, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Wolff, meanwhile, has spent his political career trying to get Democrats elected. He worked on Bill Clinton’s presidential campaigns in 1992 and 1996 and has been Pelosi’s political director for nearly a decade, in addition to his work for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

But Wolff’s hiring comes at a critical time for utilities, as President Obama has proposed an aggressive plan to curb carbon dioxide emissions. EEI had long fought against climate change legislation, although it now says it supports legislation to regulate greenhouse gases so long as it contains certain safeguards to protect against a sharp increase in energy costs.

“He brings to the table a superlative understanding of communications and government affairs and how policy gets made,” said James Owen, a spokesman for EEI.

Korn Ferry conducted the search, which Owen said lasted about a year.

Editor’s Note: An previous version of this story incorrectly described Wolff as taking the No. 2 position at EEI.

This story was updated at 1:55 p.m.