Nancy E. Ryan is an economist with expertise in energy markets and the public health and ecological impacts of energy production. She currently serves as Deputy Executive Director for Policy and External Relations, at the CPUC, directing policy initiatives in the areas of long term energy procurement, resource adequacy, and climate change. Dr. Ryan also serves as a liaison to the California Legislature, other public agencies, and the federal government. She joined the CPUC in 2006 as Chief Energy Advisor to President Michael R. Peevey.

Before joining the CPUC she was Senior Economist and Deputy California Director at Environmental Defense, where she led advocacy efforts focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles and power plants, curbing air pollution from diesel engines and restoring rivers and watersheds.

Dr. Ryan received her Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley and a BA in Economics from Yale University.