(Source: PRNewswire)SAN FRANCISCO, June 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Anthony F. "Tony" Earley Jr., chairman and CEO of Detroit-based DTE Energy, has been elected chairman of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), the national association of shareholder-owned electric companies, international affiliates and industry associates worldwide. The announcement was made during EEI's annual meeting. The Institute's chairmanship rotates on an annual basis.

"Never before in the history of this industry have we been faced with such tremendous change, challenge and opportunity," Earley said. "Congress is debating sweeping energy and climate legislation that could lay the groundwork for our transition to a low-carbon economy. Our job is to navigate this path in a way that maintains electric reliability, mitigates cost increases for our customers, and achieves substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

Earley will be supported by Richard C. "Dick" Kelly, chairman, president and CEO of Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy; Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and CEO of Richmond, Va.-based Dominion; and Lewis Hay III, chairman and CEO of FPL Group, based in Juno Beach, Fla.

Earley has been chairman and CEO of DTE Energy, a diversified energy company that includes Detroit Edison, Michigan Consolidated Gas Company, and several non-utility energy-related companies, since 1998. Earley joined Detroit Edison as president and chief operating officer in March 1994. Prior to that, he held several positions with Long Island Lighting Co., including president and COO, and was a partner in the Washington law firm of Hunton & Williams, where he assisted in the licensing of generating plants and represented nuclear utilities in regulatory proceedings before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Earley attended the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in physics, a master of science in engineering and a law degree. He also served as an officer in the United States Navy nuclear submarine program and chairman of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). He is a board member of Ford Motor Co., MASCO Corporation and numerous other organizations, including NEI and Detroit Renaissance.

Prior to his current role, Dick Kelly served as president and CEO of Xcel Energy from June 2005 until December 2005, president and COO from October 2003 to June 2005, vice president and CFO from August 2002 to October 2003, and president of Xcel Energy Enterprises from August 2000 to August 2002. He also served as executive vice president and CFO for New Century Energies from 1997 to August 2000 and senior vice president of Public Service Company of Colorado from 1990 to 1997.