Cassidy and Associates

Kai Anderson

Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President

Kai Anderson came to Washington a newly minted Ph.D. in geology from Stanford University to serve a one-year Congressional Science Fellowship more than a decade ago. Having grown up in eastern Oregon, Kai was eager to apply his background in natural resources and environmental science to policymaking. In addition to his energy and environment portfolio, Kai handled agricultural, water, gun rights, higher education, Native American, and rural development issues during a six-year tenure with Senator Harry Reid, which culminated in the role of Deputy Chief of Staff.

While originally an unlikely candidate for a congressional staffing position, Kai’s interest in politics and policy, competitive spirit, and pragmatic problem solving skills earned him the respect of his staff colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Kai’s mastery of the legislative process and skill in fostering collaborative relationships both on and off the Hill make him an indispensable resource, capable of working on a wide range policy issues, for his clients.

Leveraging his unique blend of Capitol Hill experience and scientific background, Kai evaluates his clients’ challenges, designs meaningful solutions, and communicates clients’ needs and priorities to policy makers. By distilling the essence of his client’s challenges and focusing on solutions, Kai effectively promotes his client interests. His dogged pursuit of every appropriate legislative and administrative avenue makes his practice particularly successful.

Kai believes that a collaborative, bipartisan approach involving multiple stakeholders allows him to most effectively execute his client’s strategy and leads to better policy.

While a powerful advocate on diverse array of issues, Kai’s passion lies in the energy, climate, environment, and public lands realm. Kai appreciates our nation’s profound energy challenges and opportunities and is active in the responsible development of advanced and renewable energy sources.

Kai lives in Washington D.C. with his wife and children and travels to the West whenever possible.

“Conservation and development are all too often viewed as a zero-sum game. With open minds, creativity, and hard work we can sometimes change this paradigm to the great benefit of society and the environment.”

Recent Engagements:

Helped secure multi-billion dollar multi-year funding of the Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes and Secure Rural Schools programs on behalf of a coalition of counties
Participated in a successful effort to protect 538,000 acres of wilderness and an expansion of a national park while protecting development potential in the region
Facilitated the authorization of a conveyance of 120 acres from the federal government to a not-for-profit scientific research institute. The project, which involved 3 federal departments, will catalyze the creation of hundreds of jobs and tens of millions in expanded research revenue annually.
Advocated for the creation of a multi-billion dollar program to provide for federal financing of interstate electricity transmission to advance renewable energy development in the West
Partnered in the design and execution of a strategic campaign to prevent the proliferation of unwarranted off-reservation tribal gaming
Conceived and catalyzed collaborative effort to site renewable energy projects on public lands while empowering local communities and stakeholders to influence where such development occurs
Educated congressional members on client matter to help prevent hostile take-over of technology security firm by an unregulated hedge fund
Helped defeat a budget reconciliation effort that would have further weakened the Mining Law of 1872, and sold off units of the National Park System
Worked with Congress and the Administration to relocate a major electricity transmission right-of-way in order to resolve conflicts with a unit of the National Park System and minimize negative impacts on sage grouse
Successfully developed tax provisions for multiple clients who manufacture and deploy various highly efficient technologies
Helped secure a no-cost conveyance of a railroad right-of-way from the federal government to a municipality for redevelopment
Promoted award-winning not-for-profit program aimed at substantially reducing first-time methamphetamine use in 8 states

Professional Affiliations:

Geological Society of America
American Association of Petroleum Geologists
American Geophysical Union

Cassidy Gets a New Look on Twitter

Are you following us?

03.15.2013

Have you checked out the new YouTube One Channel layout?

03.11.2013

The opening sequence to Netflix’s popular online ‘TV show’, House of Cards, includes the new state of the art, LEED Gold Certified Green building that Cassidy & Associates calls home.

03.08.2013

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Cassidy Lands Recurring Role in 'House of Cards' - Roll Call

The opening credits of Netflix’s inside-the-Beltway show “House of Cards” offer glimpses of iconic D.C. spots such as the Capitol, the FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover Building and statues of soldiers on horses.

And the headquarters of Cassidy & Associates.

03.11.2013

National Journal is out with its Five Energy/Environment Hill Staffers to Watch list and Cassidy & Associates' Kai Anderson talks about its pick of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's new senior energy advisor.

02.05.2013

The Washington Post is out with its annual list of top businesses in the Capital Region and Cassidy & Associates is on the Top Ten List.

12.19.2012

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