Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio), a powerful figure in U.S. energy policy as chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy Subcommittee, has hired Berkley Lane, a former lobbyist for major energy and tech firms, as his legislative assistant. By hiring a former corporate lobbyist who worked to influence Congress on energy issues, Latta is reinforcing the revolving door in Washington, where corporate influence peddlers transition into policymaking roles with power over the very issues they once lobbied on. The hiring was first reported by Legistorm.
Lane spent four years at Invariant LLC, working her way up to manager in the lobbying firm's energy and environmental practice. For Apple, Lane has lobbied on critical minerals and recycling legislation. On behalf of Bitcoin mining company Riot Platforms, Lane worked on legislation related to digital asset energy policy. As a lobbyist for the Uranium Producers of America, Lane has pushed policymakers to designate uranium as a critical mineral and discussed implementation of Russian uranium imports ban that was signed into law by President Biden. And for Heirloom Carbon Technologies, Lane worked to build support for direct air capture technology and worked on pipeline safety regulations.
