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Wind proponent Karl Rabago this month starts as a high-level appointee at the Department of Energy -- but there is no word of any change in the status of another high level renewables advocate, David Freeman at the New York Power Authority (NYPA). The future of both had become of interest since the Republican sweep in November. Rabago was appointed almost three years ago to the Texas Public Utilities Commission by Democratic Governor Anne Richards. But Richards was ousted by Republican George W Bush, son of the former president, during the mid-term election. Rabago, however, had already been tagged for a Washington position; and it became official on December 31. He is now Deputy Assistant Secretary for Utility Technologies in the Office for Energy Efficiency. Freeman, formerly head of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, has led the NYPA, the nation's largest non-federal public power agency, since September. Democratic Governor Mario Cuomo was also ousted by a Republican but by mid-December there had been no official comment by NYPA on Freeman's future. Freeman is not an appointed official, but was recommended for the post by Cuomo.