Christine R. Root

Experience

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  North Coast Environmental Center

  Aug 2001 - Jun 2002

  Student Assistant

  • Organized fund raising events involving public and private organizations for the North Coast Environmental Center (a non profit organization).• Assisted the public in finding environmental organizations and environmentally friendly solutions. • Member of the ECO News staff; helped with layout and formatting of newsletter.• Involved in campaigning, mailings, and networking.

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  California Department of Toxic Substances Control

  Jun 2002 - Aug 2002

  Student Intern

  • Researched topics and provided support on a number of issues for an interagency air monitoring work group. • Worked as liaison with EPA Region 9 librarians and the California Air Resources Board in order to support a work group. • Contributed to meetings between Berkeley and Sacramento offices concerning RACER and Cost Pro software improvements. • Coordinated with site manager of several toxic landfills to ensure compliance and information sharing of site operations and procedures.

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  URS Corporation

  Nov 2003 - Jun 2010

  Renewable Resources Group Manager

  Group manager for the Sacramento Renewable Resources Group Renewable Energy Planning, Wind Energy Developments and other Renewable Resources.Business Development, including proposal and strategic planning.CEQA/NEPA compliance, EIR and EIS document preparation and complianceAsset development, including real property, asset management Project Management

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  California Energy Commission

  Jun 2010 - May 2020

  Plans, organizes and manages the activities of the Compliance Office and Program. Includes the management oversight of project managers and other professional staff engaged in the review and analysis of licensed energy facilities, power plant amendments, enforcement of conditions of certification and other policy issues related to compliance in the Siting, Transmission and Environmental Protection Division. Advises the Deputy Director, Executive Director and Commissioners on compliance program activities, enforcement actions, and policy matters. Responsible for the compliance of 112 power plants throughout the state. Responds to inquiries from media on high profile projects and Commission actions. Prepares briefings for Executives, Commissioners and responds to requests from the Legislature and/or Governor’s Office when needed. Represents the Commission when taking action during a Settlement or other signification action by the Commission as it relates to power plant compliance. Show less Serves as an energy advisor to Commissioner Karen Douglas. In this role I reviewed technical documents and briefed/advised Commissioner Douglas on a variety of energy policy related matters including, but not limited to, the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP), power plant siting cases and amendments, Title 20 regulation changes, the Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR), specifically Chapter 20, the Renewable Energy Planning Process for the State of California and other major project that the Commissioner was engaged in. Assisted with government-to-government consultations with Native American Tribes on energy related issues. Worked closely with Energy Commission staff to ensure that policy direction was followed.Commissioner Douglas was originally appointed to the California Energy Commission by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in February 2008 and re-appointed by Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. in December 2012. She served as Chair from February 2009 to February 2011. She fills the Attorney position on the five-member Commission where four of the five members by law are required to have professional training in specific areas - engineering or physical science, environmental protection, economics, and law. Commissioner Douglas is the lead commissioner on power plant siting (including the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan) and federal stimulus programs. Show less Manages power plant compliance for existing power plants in California including solar, geothermal, and natural gas. Duties include oversight of power plant construction and ensuring that the conditions of certification are being met though out construction, operation, and decommissioning of various power plants in California. Reviews petitions to amend existing licenses and gives recommendations to the Commission for approval or denial of requests. Coordinate with Commission technical staff, other regulatory agencies, developers, contractors, and the public to ensure power projects are in compliance with all applicable conditions of certification and LORS. Working knowledge of CEQA, NEPA, and the Warren-Alquist Act. Show less

  • Powerplant Compliance Office Manager

    Feb 2015 - May 2020

  • Energy Advisor to Commissioner Douglas

    Oct 2014 - Feb 2015

  • Complaince Project Manager

    Jun 2010 - Oct 2014
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  California Public Utilities Commission

  May 2020 - now

  Program and Project Supervisor Infrastructure Permitting

  Supervises analysts and engineers in the Energy Division CEQA and Energy Permitting Unit. The unit is responsible for 1) providing advisory support to Commission decision-makers on proceedings that relate to CEQA and infrastructure permitting; 2) review and recommend action on “advice letter” requests from the utility in compliance with prior Commission orders; and 3) manage CEQA infrastructure contracts and monitor expenditures of contractors and utilities. Specific job duties include supervision (hiring, assigning work, evaluating employee work products, employee evaluations, and training), organization (planning the work of the section, work prioritization, ensuring sufficient resources are available to achieve the section’s goals), policy development (utilizing staff to develop facts and analysis to justify short and long term policy changes), and communication (preparing and editing reports, briefing Administrative Law Judges, Commissioners, and division management, and making presentations internally and before other agencies). This position requires a high level of coordination with CPUC regulated utilities including the investor owned utilities such as PG&E, SCE, SDG&E. In addition to these responsibilities, I track and oversee contracts for the Energy Division and develop contract improvements and contract selection criteria. Show less