California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger chose an economist to be newest regulator on the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). Nancy Ryan, the regulatory body’s current deputy executive director for policy, gives the CPUC a full complement of regulators a month after the Senate refused to reconfirm Rachelle Chong, a telecommunications attorney and former member of the Federal Communications Commission, to a full six-year term.

Ryan, 49, has expertise in energy markets, climate change policy and the public health and ecological impacts of energy production. Ryan has had her current job since last February. The appointment requires Senate confirmation within a year’s time.

Ryan has been a member of the the CPUC management team since January 2006 when she began as CPUC President Michael Peevey’s chief energy advisor and served as his chief of staff from April 2007 to February 2009. The appointment follows Peevey’s confirmation for an additional six-year term (see Daily GPI, Dec. 18, 2009).

A CPUC spokesperson said Ryan has played “a key role” during her time at the commission in developing policies in the areas of climate change, electricity market design and renewable energy. “In the course of these efforts she has helped to build and enhance the CPUC’s working relationships with its sister energy agencies and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, as well as the legislature and governor’s office. “

Ryan pledged “to work to continue to make California a leader in energy, communications, water and transportation policies for the benefit of California and its consumers, environment and economy.” Prior to joining the CPUC, Ryan was senior economist and deputy California director at Environmental Defense Fund, where she led policy initiatives focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and power plants, curbing air pollution from diesel engines and restoring rivers and watersheds.

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