Patricia Cole, Chief Executive Officer
Patricia Cole has more than 20 years of experience in the electric energy business, including renewable energy and energy conservation program planning, implementation and evaluation for demand-side and kWh reduction for residential and commercial customers.
She worked for Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) a publicly-owned utility that built hydroelectric power plants on the Upper American River beginning in 1957. SMUD became the only large California utility to meet the statewide goal of supplying 20% of its power from renewables in 2010 and supplied more than 24% of its retail sales with renewable energy in 2010, beating its goal of 23.8%. SMUD adopted goals for renewable power in 2001, to meet or exceed the state requirements and is well on the way to meeting the 2020 goal of 37%.
Patricia developed and managed commercial/industrial and residential energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. She developed good working relationships with Building Industry Association (BIA) and its members, passive solar designers, and major developers and builders. Patricia also provided technical analyses to builders to assist in Title 24 building standards compliance. She researched, developed and implemented residential new construction programs. Patricia managed SMUD’s complete advertising needs with a budget of $5 million/year, and served as management analyst for the Assistant General Manager of Operations.
She is a U.S. Department of Energy certified trainer and trained solar inspectors. As her utility’s representative for the National Energy Conservation Policy Act, Patricia co-chaired a statewide task force of all private and publicly-owned utilities to draft a State Plan that worked for all utilities and was approved by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Patricia also developed SMUD’s first home energy audit program based on these requirements, including building the algorithms for computer analysis. SMUD was rated one of the top ten best utilities in the country for implementation.
Patricia also managed projects between SMUD and local municipalities and agencies. An example is a low-income weatherization program between Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment, the California Conservation Corps, and SMUD where she was responsible for weatherizing 840 units on time and under budget.
Additional responsibilities include managing and supervising up to 42 employees and five managers in areas scattered throughout SMUD facilities and representing SMUD through their speaker’s panel where she addressed topics like nuclear power, energy alternatives, and energy conservation. She enjoys coordinating projects which bring a diverse group of people and experience together and facilitating their progress.
Patricia’s budget experience range from developing a seven million dollar budget for a new program to managing an eleven million dollar budget for SMUD’s Operations Department. She developed and managed contracts for labor, advertising, and other SMUD services.
Patricia also drafted public documents, program proposals and evaluations, marketing materials, and public presentations. She enjoys writing, and making technical information understandable to the general public. Patricia works well with a variety of stakeholders from corporate levels to individuals.
Her experience also includes working closely with the California Energy Commission to develop her utility’s Common Forecasting Methodology and with Aspen Environmental Consultants to evaluate a proposed 500 mile electric transmission line through northern California. She is a contributing author of the California Energy Commission’s California’s Power Plant Siting Guide. Patricia also launched Placer County’s MPower program in 2010 through Placer County’s Tax Assessor’s Office, called PACE (property assessment clean energy). This program provides a way for residential and business owners finance energy efficiency improvements.
Patricia has a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis on multi-cultural literature. Aside from work, she enjoys travel, gardening, cooking reading, writing both fiction and nonfiction, working with local nonprofits, and relaxing with her rescue greyhound.