Cliff Rechtschaffen

Cliff Rechtschaffen

Public Policy Board | Board Member

Cliff Rechtschaffen was appointed to the California Public Utilities Commission by Governor Jerry Brown in January 2017.  At the CPUC his key areas of interest include decarbonization, safety, environmental justice, enforcement, and improving the accessibility of Commission proceedings.  Commissioner Rechtschaffen is lead commissioner on several risk assessment, emergency management and safety proceedings, transportation electrification, the Renewables Portfolio Standard and Self Generating Incentive proceeding, and the biomethane and renewable gas proceeding. Prior to joining the CPUC, Commissioner Rechtschaffen served as a senior advisor to Governor Brown from 2011 to 2017, where he worked on climate, energy, and environmental issues, and special assistant attorney general in the California Attorney General’s Office from 2007-2010.  From 1993-2007, he taught environmental law and directed the environmental law program at Golden Gate University School of Law.