Courtney Prideaux Smith is the chief deputy director of the California Energy Commission where she helps develop and oversee numerous state policies and programs aimed at creating a clean, reliable, safe energy system for California. Courtney believes addressing climate change is one of the most important calls to service of our time.

As the deputy director of the Commission’s Renewable Energy Division, she oversaw the implementation of California’s landmark Renewables Portfolio Standard, several renewable energy incentive and grant programs, and other activities aimed at achieving California’s ambitious renewable energy and climate goals.  Courtney also worked at the California Air Resources Board in various capacities, including staffing Chair Mary D. Nichols and serving as a contributing author to California’s Scoping Plan Update—California’s climate action roadmap.

Before working for the State of California, Courtney worked for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, where she assessed neighborhood vulnerability to heat waves as a result of climate change, which informs the city’s emergency planning efforts to this day.  Ms. Smith holds a master of science in environmental health from the University of California, Berkeley.