Two of the nation’s three electric utility Washington-based trade groups yesterday (Aug 16) announced leadership changes. The Edison Electric Institute has chosen Dan Brouillette, former Trump administration secretary of energy, as its new president and chief executive officer. EEI represents the nation’s investor-owned utilities.
On the same day, the American Public Power Association announced Scott Corwin has joined the trade group as its new president and CEO. He was head of the Northwest Public Power Association in Vancouver, Wash., and a long-time leader in the APPA. His selection was announced earlier this year.
Brouillette, 60, has broad lobbying experience in Washington, including serving as a key aide to Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.) and a Department of Energy lobbyist during the George W. Bush administration. Trump named him as deputy DOE secretary under then Energy Secretary Rick Perry in 2017 and elevated him to the top DOE job in 2019, where he served until 2021.
Brouillette replaces Tom Kuhn, 76, the longest-serving EEI head, having become the trade group leader in 1990. He announced earlier this year he would step down at the end of the year. Kuhn joined the EEI staff in 1985, after having served as head of the American Nuclear Energy Conference, a nuclear lobbying group.
Corwin, long active in APPA leadership and public power advocacy, replaces Joy Ditto, who resigned suddenly last January after 15 years with APPA as a lobbyist and three years as the association’s CEO. According to a highly placed source, she left after a dispute over her authority to select staff associates.
–Kennedy Maize