May 12, 2017
U.S.

Former Bush official jumps from API to wind group

Christa Marshall, E&E News reporter | Published: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 | www.eenews.net

A former U.S. EPA and George W. Bush administration official is joining the American Wind Energy Association as senior vice president for government and public affairs.

Amy Farrell heads to AWEA next month from the American Petroleum Institute, where she is group director for market development. In that role, she has been outspoken about natural gas as baseload power when “the wind doesn’t blow” (Climatewire, Oct. 14, 2015).

The announcement comes at a critical time for the wind industry, as the Department of Energy is conducting a study on grid reliability viewed as a potential renewable threat.

Many clean energy advocates are concerned the analysis could facilitate a push to undo the current production tax credit (Greenwire, May 9).

“The wind industry is at an exciting crossroads, and I am honored to join the AWEA leadership during this transformational time,” Farrell said in a statement. AWEA said she would be on its executive team and oversee federal regulatory affairs, state policy and industry research.

Farrell also served as vice president for regulatory affairs at America’s Natural Gas Alliance and as a corporate adviser at Exxon Mobil Corp. prior to joining API.

Before entering the private sector, Farrell was the special assistant to the president for economic policy in 2008 during the Bush administration. She also was an associate director for environment and regulation at the White House Council on Environmental Quality from 2006 to 2008. Additionally, Farrell held several positions at EPA from 2004 to 2006, including deputy assistant administrator in the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/05/12/former-bush-official-jumps-from-api-to-wind-group/