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Who's Signing Whom by Aoife McCarthy The Politico, July 21, 2007

Energy Northwest, a public power consortium in Richland, Wash., has hired Strategies 360 of Seattle. According to forms filed with the Secretary of the Senate, the consulting and lobbying firm is working specifically on issues related to the Pacific Mountain Energy Center, a $1.5 billion coal plant that Energy Northwest plans to build in Kalama, Wash.

Construction on the coal plant could start next year. However, a law the state legislature passed in April prevents Washington utilities from signing long-term contracts with coal-fired power plants that produce excessive greenhouse gases. Energy Northwest delayed its building plans until last week.

This is not the only Washington State energy interest on Strategies' client list. The lobbying shop also works for Grant County Public Utility District, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Bradley Goes Nuclear

Chad Bradley & Associates is lobbying for the Nuclear Energy Institute, a trade association for the nuclear energy industry.

According to the filing with the Secretary of the Senate, the firm is monitoring nuclear legislative activity for the association.

The institute spent $1.36 million on lobbying last year and had 10 lobbying firms on hand, as well as several in-house lobbyists, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Some of the institute's members are Energy Northwest, Honeywell and TXU Power.

Based in Alexandria, Va., Bradley also lobbies for Constellation Energy Group and the Portland Cement Association.

Smart Property

The law firm of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis is lobbying for the International Intellectual Property Institute, a not-for-profit corporation based in Washington, D.C.

According to the filing with the Secretary of the Senate, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart is specifically lobbying in support of funding for IIPI. Heather Mizeur, a former domestic policy director for Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), is one the lobbyists working on the account.

What Is Mehlman Up to Anyway?

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman is one of the seven lobbyists with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld to lobby on behalf of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. The private equity giant plans to go public and wants help on tax and regulatory issues, according to the filing.

This spring, Congress turned its searchlights on the private equity business and introduced legislation in both chambers that would change the way firms like KKR are taxed.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Akin Gump represents a number of financial companies and made more than $25 million lobbying last year.

Say It With Flowers

The New York law firm of Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner now represents the Society of American Florists, specifically focusing on the Farm Bill and agriculture issues. According to the filing, the effective date of the contract was June 6, 2007. The filing was received July 16.

Who's Signing Whom regularly tracks which companies and countries are hiring lobbyists and public affairs firms. If you have a news item, please send it to us at suitetalk@politico.com.