David Hochschild

Public Policy Board | Board Member

• Company: California Energy Commission
• Title: Chair

David Hochschild has enjoyed a long career in public service, environmental advocacy and the private sector.  Most recently, he was appointed chair of the California Energy Commission by Governor Newsom in 2019.  Previously, he was the environmental member for the commission.

As Special Assistant to San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, he launched a citywide $100 million initiative to put solar panels on public buildings.  Hochschild co-founded the Vote Solar Initiative, a 60,000-member advocacy organization promoting solar policies.  He worked for Silicon Valley solar company Solaria; as executive director of a national consortium of leading solar manufacturers; and commissioner at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

Hochschild was awarded the Sierra Club’s Trailblazer Award, American Lung Association’s Clean Air Hero Award, and DOE’s Million Solar Roof True Champion Award.

He is a boardmember of the Langeloth Foundation.

He earned a B.A. degree from Swarthmore College, and Masters of Public Policy degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.