Obama taps Deutsche Bank economist to read energy crystal ball

By Ben Geman - 01/23/12 10:59 PM ET

President Obama will nominate Deutsche Bank economist Adam Sieminski to head the Energy Information Administration, the federal agency that produces closely watched analyses of U.S. energy use, production and price trends.

Sieminski, the bank’s chief energy economist since 2005, is a prominent analyst who is quoted often in the press and has testified repeatedly on Capitol Hill.

If confirmed, he would replace Acting Administrator Howard Gruenspecht. The prior Senate-confirmed administrator, Richard Newell, left last summer to return to Duke University.

EIA is the Energy Department’s independent statistical arm. Its roles include production of weekly energy price and inventory data, as well as a suite of data and analyses – ranging from short-term to decades out – of energy prices, production, consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and many other types of data.

EIA, which examines both traditional fossil and alternative energies, also provides legislative analyses for Capitol Hill lawmakers.

Before becoming Deutsche Bank’s chief energy economist, Sieminski served since 1998 as director and energy strategist for Deutsche Bank’s global oil and gas equity team, according to the White House.

Here’s more on Sieminski’s bio from the White House:

Mr. Sieminski served as Vice President and Senior Oil Analyst for NatWest Securities from 1995 until 1998 and Vice President and Oil Analyst for Washington Analysis Corporation from 1973 until 1995. In 2006, Secretary of Energy Sam Bodman appointed Mr. Sieminski to the National Petroleum Council, where he still serves as a Member. Mr. Sieminski received his B.S. and M.P.A. from Cornell University.