Energy Seminar: Achieving Environmental Justice at the California Public Utilities Commission - Clifford Rechtschaffen

Achieving justice has become a central tenet in the climate and clean energy policies of many states and the federal government.  This lecture will focus on the California Public Utilities Commission’s adoption and implementation of its Environmental & Social Justice Action Plan, one of the most far-reaching plans among state energy agencies and public utilities commissions. 

Bio
Cliff Rechtschaffen served as an appointed commissioner on the California Public Utilities Commission from January, 2017 to December, 2022.  At the CPUC he was the lead commissioner on several major decarbonization proceedings, including the integrated resource planning, building decarbonization, transportation electrification and long term gas planning proceedings.  Prior to joining the CPUC he served as a senior advisor to Governor Jerry Brown from 2011 to 2017, where he worked on climate, energy, and environmental issues, and as a special assistant attorney general to AG Brown in the California Attorney General’s Office from 2007-2010.  From 1993-2007, he taught environmental law, directed the environmental law program, and co-founded the Environmental Law and Justice Clinic at Golden Gate University School of Law.  From 1986-1993, he worked in the Environment Section of the California Attorney General’s Office.  He is a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School.