Jeffrey R. Holmstead

Jeffrey R. Holmstead heads up the "Environmental Strategies Group" (ESG) at Bracewell & Giuliani, a U.S. lobbying firm. A biograpahical note states that "the ESG is a multi-disciplinary group that includes environmental and energy attorneys, public policy advocates, and strategic communications experts – most of whom have had high-level government experience. Under Mr. Holmstead's leadership, they work together on daily basis to advise and defend companies and business groups confronting major environmental and energy-development challenges, both domestically and globally."

Background
Jeff Holmstead has worked in two presidential administrations, starting in the George H. W. Bush White House as an associate council, then moving to the corporate law firm Latham & Watkins before joining the George W. Bush Environmental Protection Agency. At the EPA, Holmstead was a former assistant administrator for air and radiation at the United States EPA. He also oversaw the development of the Bush administration's "Clear Skies Legislation" and key parts of its "Global Climate Change Initiative."

Previously a lobbyist with the firm of Latham & Watkins, Holmstead represented electric utilities trying to fight air pollution restrictions, and he represented the Farm Bureau conglomerate in its fights against pesticide controls. He was a key player in pushing Bush's Clear Skies initiative, which allowed a 520 percent increase in toxic mercury pollution, a 225 percent jump in carbon dioxide pollution (a global warming contaminant), and a delay in the enforcement of smog and soot pollution until 2016. In charge of writing a new rule to limit mercury poisoning of children by electric power plants, Holmstead embraced a watered-down rule that essentially was written by his old lobbying firm of Latham & Watkins.

Mercury Pollution and the Coal Utility Lobby
A PolluterWatch report accuses Jeffrey Holmstead of blocking legally-mandated mercury pollution controls at U.S. power plants for eight full years. Since joining Bracewell & Giuliani, Holmstead's clients have almost exclusively been coal utilities, coal mining and shipping companies, and coal trade associations. In the years that Holmstead was disclosed as a lobbyist for coal interests, those client companies have paid Holmstead's firm over $10.7 million. These companies include Southern Company, Duke Energy, Progress Energy, and Energy Future Holdings, all listed among top utility mercury polluters.

Amending a Bill
In January 2010 Washington Post journalist, Juliet Eilperin, reported that Holmstead and Roger R. Martella, Jr., "helped craft" the original version of an amendment proposed by Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski which would "bar the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act". Holmstead confirmed that in Sptember 2009 he worked with Murkowski's staff on the wording of the amendment. Holmstead's client list on climate issues includes Southern Company, Duke Energy, Progress Energy and the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council on climate matters.

Education

 * J.D., Yale Law School, 1987
 * B.A., summa cum laude, Brigham Young University, 1984
 * Bar Admissions: District of Columbia, Pennsylvania

Contact
Jeffrey R. Holmstead Bracewell & Giuliani 2000 K Street NW Suite 500 Washington, District of Columbia, 20006-1872 Tel: 202.828.5800 Fax: 202.223.1225 Email: jeff.holmsteadATbgllp.com (replace the "AT" with "@")

Related SourceWatch resources

 * Bracewell & Giuliani
 * Government-industry revolving door