Her Story
About Emily
My typical day involves managing a portfolio of solar projects at various stages of development. I receive reports on everything from the biology of sites - like recently getting cute emails from biologists about tortoises being tracked who found mates - to technical studies, socioeconomic studies, and air quality studies where we analyze the impacts of our projects. Since utility-scale projects take 3,000 to 5,000 acres, you're going to find something on that much land, whether it's sensitive species or other issues. It's really about analyzing all the issues that could create risk for investors and then conforming the project based on all the information you take in. In my permitting and regulatory affairs role, you're really a renaissance person because you need understanding of engineering, construction, general biology, socioeconomics, budget, and keeping a project on schedule. You're pulling from every single department in a development shop. Nowadays, one of the biggest parts of what we do is community outreach and relations because we deal with a lot of NIMBYism and general misconception around solar. We're also dealing with the data center industry's need for energy, creating a nexus between solar and data centers, which is creating new challenges in the industry.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Emily
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't be afraid to ask questions and be brave in terms of presenting your ideas, because I think often you will find that when you ask a question, many people in the room say, oh, I didn't understand that either. People are often hindered by feeling timid when they first start, and maybe they don't realize that they have novel ideas. Being brave and being able to pitch ideas and ask questions is a really important trait. The worst thing that can ever happen in life is people say no, right? And you just move on. You have to hold a high bar and they will rise to it. If you set a low bar, they'll also set themselves at that same level. So you have to have high expectations, because they'll take exactly what you give.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest parts of what we do now is dealing with NIMBYism and general misconception around solar. We're also dealing with the data center industry's need for energy, and there's a nexus being created between solar and data centers, which goes for any energy source. The fossil fuel industry is involved as well. People don't like data centers, and in some ways I can empathize with their reasons. I think it's really creating new challenges in the industry.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I really believe in trying to adhere to a mind, body, and soul philosophy, where you're trying to feed each pillar. I'm very outdoorsy and love doing everything that each season offers in Colorado, like skiing, rafting, hiking, and paddle boarding. I try to be involved in charitable actions, especially volunteering at a battered women's shelter and participating in things that feed the soul that way. Intellectually, I participate in a lot of projects outside of my work, whether they're creative projects with friends or working with prospective politicians campaigning, which is part of the DNA of Washington, D.C. that I took with me. I would say I try to be well-rounded, and I encourage others to be exploratory. You don't know what you're going to be good at till you try it, right?
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