Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold today appointed Sydnie Lieb, PhD, as the new Assistant Commissioner of Regulatory Affairs for Commerce’s Division of Energy Resources, promoting her from the position of Commerce’s Director of Regulatory Affairs.  

Lieb will oversee the Department’s work at the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on regulatory issues, encompassing energy resource financial analysis, planning, and policy, as well as Minnesota’s Energy Conservation and Optimization Program (formerly the Conservation Improvement Program).  Commerce represents ratepayers before the PUC in projects ranging from regulation of electricity rates paid by consumers to permitting for solar, wind and transmission line projects.  

“Commerce has already benefited from Dr. Lieb’s expertise in the regulatory process and I am excited to appoint her to this new leadership role, which is critical as we make plans and take actions to achieve Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework goals and transition to a more equitable, clean-energy future,” said Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold.   

Lieb has experience in industry and government, for energy and climate work. Prior to joining the Department of Commerce as Regulatory Affairs Director in October 2023, she was energy and environmental policy manager for Xcel Energy, managed research for an energy consulting firm, worked in environmental protection for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in air pollution control for the California Air Resources Board, and as a scientific advisor for tech start-ups. She graduated with a mechanical engineering degree from Washington University in St. Louis and obtained her doctorate in mechanical engineering from the University of Southern California.  

Lieb will move into her new role on April 1, and succeeds Louise Miltich, who is leaving the department to become the first-ever Executive Vice President for Great Plains Institute. She joins the Division’s leadership team with Deputy Commissioner Michelle Gransee and Assistant Commissioner Pete Wyckoff. 

More information about Commerce’s Energy Resources Division: mn.gov/commerce/energy. 

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Mo Schriner, Communications Director
Minnesota Department of Commerce
mo.schriner@state.mn.us