Governor Newsom’s office today announced the appointment of Mathew Baker to oversee energy issues for the California Natural Resources Agency:

Matthew Baker, 55, of San Carlos, has been appointed deputy secretary of energy at the California Natural Resources Agency. Baker has been a program officer at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation since 2012.  He served as a commissioner at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission from 2008 to 2012. He was executive director for Environment Colorado from 2002 to 2008 and Colorado Public Interest Research Group from 1999 to 2002. He was hiring director at the Fund for Public Interest Research from 1995 to 1999 and organizing director with New Jersey Public Interest Research Group from 1990 to 1996. This position does not require Senate confirmation and the compensation is $170,004. Baker is a Democrat.