The sister-in-law of John Podesta, President Obama?s influential White House transition director, served as the lobbyist for a wind power firm that was just awarded a $135.8 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy. The company is Brookfield Asset Management. It boasts a board of nine directors, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg?s long-term girlfriend. The Energy Department?s promise to Brookfield marks the latest in controversial massive alternative energy loans to companies with strong ties to the Obama White House and to top Democrat lawmakers. Last month, the grant was finalized to build the 99 megawatt Granite Reliable wind project in New Hampshire?s Coos County, making it the state?s largest wind plant. Seventy-five percent of the new wind project is owned by BAIF Granite Holdings, which was created earlier this year by Brookfield Renewable Power, a subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management of New York. Since 2009, Brookfield has been represented by the lobby firm Heather Podesta and Partners, LLC. Podesta, a top financial bundler for Democrat politicians, is wife of lobbyist and art collector, Tony Podesta, who is the brother of John Podesta.
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