WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
Lora Anguay
Chief Zero Carbon Officer , SMUD
by Rachel Leibrock
Lora Anguay knows she isn ’ t always the expert in the room in her job at the Sacramento Municipal Utilities District . That ’ s a benefit , not a drawback , she says . With a background that includes serving in the U . S . Coast Guard , Anguay often relies on colleagues as well as the breadth of her own knowledge for guidance .
“ One of the benefits of having such a wide range of experience is that I ’ m actually not the expert on any one thing ,” she says . “ I have a really good aptitude for learning and understanding what we ’ re doing , ( as well ) as making sure I bring the right people into the room .”
Anguay , who has worked at SMUD since 2004 , was named the utility company ’ s inaugural chief zero carbon officer in April 2021 . In the job , Anguay leads a team responsible for meeting SMUD ’ s efforts to address climate change by achieving zero carbon emissions in its power supply by 2030 by relying more on clean , renewable energy sources . The goals also include plans to retire at least two natural gas power plants , a move that could impact public health as well .
“ A lot of these plants are located in disadvantaged communities , where the air quality has a big impact ,” she says . “ It ’ s a huge benefit to the people who live in the area but especially to the region as a whole .”
In January , the utility launched a pilot project at the Hedge Solar Farm in south Sacramento with six large-scale , lithium-ion battery storage units that are part of SMUD ’ s plan to add a total of 1,100 megawatts of battery storage over the next decade .
Anguay ’ s role comes with myriad difficulties . “ There ’ s challenges with getting our company aligned and on the same page ,” she says . “ There are also challenges in terms of technology readiness . … We set a target for 2030 knowing that we don ’ t know how we ’ re going to get there for that last 10 or 15 percent ( of our goal ).”
Even so , each incremental achievement , small or large , counts as a win , Anguay adds , particularly when SMUD ’ s actions serve as a model for other statewide utility companies . “( We ) are starting to see that drive within the industry ,” she says . “ Other utilities are adopting the same goals and ( committing ) to decarbonization as well .”
Anguay ’ s previous gigs at SMUD included working as the utility ’ s director of distribution operations and maintenance , a role in which she oversaw new design and construction projects as well as the company ’ s smart grid rollout , which launched in 2010 .
Before SMUD , the Sacramento native explored multiple career paths . In high school , Anguay worked in accounting . After graduation she joined the Coast Guard . Military duty took her first to Los Angeles and later aviation school in North Carolina . Then , as a single mom of a 1-year-old son , she ’ d hoped to be stationed in Florida . Instead , a superior officer sent her back to California so that she could rely on a support system of friends and family .
Although initially disappointed in the assignment , Anguay sees it differently now . After finishing her military duty as well as a stint as a finance manager at Oracle , she says she understands the need for such support systems . Anguay went back to school while at SMUD , graduating from Sacramento State in 2013 with a degree in business administration . She financed her education using her GI Bill and SMUD ’ s tuition assistance .
Anguay adds her decision to work for SMUD was influenced by her own guiding work principles .
“ I felt that I was better aligned with SMUD ’ s mission and core values ,” she says . “ SMUD is a not-for-profit , community-owned electric utility , which means that they always do what is right for the community and for their customers .”
As such , her leadership philosophy is rooted in meeting community needs .
While it ’ s important to get a lot of people in the room to talk through problems , Anguay says , she doesn ’ t necessarily rely on a democratic “ majority rules ” approach to management .
“ That ’ s not what you ’ re looking for as ( a leader ),” she says . “ You ’ re looking to figure out the best solution . The key is to look for divergent opinions . If everyone is saying , ‘ Yes , this is a good idea ,’ then ask the opposite questions .”
Rachel Leibrock is a writer and editor who covers arts and culture , food , and current events . She has worked at the Sacramento News & Review and The Sacramento Bee . More at www . rachel-leibrock . com .
58 comstocksmag . com | March 2022