Utility Dive Quotes Allison Smith on Experience and Qualifications of New CARB Leader Liane Randolph

Environmental and energy law partner Allison Smith was quoted in Utility Dive in an article titled “Newsom taps CPUC’s Liane Randolph to lead California Air Resources Board,” published December 11, 2020. The article discusses the potential impact on the California Air Resources Board (CARB) of the appointment of Liane Randolph as the agency’s next chair.

A primary responsibility for CARB is to guide California in achieving its goal of statewide carbon neutrality by 2045. A commissioner of the California Public Utilities Commission since 2015, Randolph has led the commission’s integrated resource planning proceeding, which combines policies and programs for obtaining electricity with greenhouse gas reduction goals, while also ensuring the safety, reliability and cost-effectiveness of the electric supply.

According to Smith, Randolph’s experience with the integrated resource planning process is likely to be very useful at CARB in working to achieve carbon neutrality: “She’s going to be applying that same global perspective, but just expanding it.”

Smith also notes that Randolph is likely to face fewer legal battles with the incoming administration than the outgoing chair did with the current one. “It will make CARB’s job easier to not have to worry about putting its resources to trying to combat what’s going on at the federal level,” she said.