CALPIRG Staff

State Director Emily Rusch has worked with U.S.PIRG, the federation of state PIRGs, since 2001. In 2008 she ran CALPIRG’s successful statewide field campaign to pass Prop 1A and invest in the nation’s first true high-speed rail line. She’s represented CALPIRG on numerous issues in the legislature and co-authored research reports on transportation, energy, and tax and budget policies. Prior to joining CALPIRG's staff, Emily worked for four years as New Jersey PIRG’s Energy Advocate, where she ran successful campaigns to require New Jersey's power companies to increase clean, renewable energy like wind and solar power, and to pass legislation to set minimum energy efficiency standards for common products like air conditioners and traffic lights. Emily was born in San Gabriel and grew up in Culver City, California. She graduated from Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, in 2001. She’s based in our San Francisco office.