When most people think of SMUD, they think of a utility that generates power for the Sacramento region. And while that is certainly a core mission for one of the country’s largest community-owned, not-for-profit electric service providers, it doesn’t tell the full story.* That’s because SMUD has developed initiatives to help businesses in the community grow and thrive beyond simply connecting wires and providing electricity. SMUD also wants to be a valued partner to its builder/developer stakeholders, understanding that their success creates a thriving economic base and opportunities for our community.
The SMUD Commercial Development and Business Attraction team supports the building industry through the entire planning and build process, well before the first shovel goes into the ground. “Major construction projects are complex and often years in the making, with lots of moving parts. We want to facilitate that process and not be an impediment,” says Paul Lau, CEO and general manager of SMUD. “We’re committed to the growth, development and success of our business community. That’s why the Commercial Development team is here to support developers through our build process from project concept and implementation to meter set-up through to activating their SMUD account.”
Brandy Bolden, SMUD’s chief customer officer, adds that, “providing best-in-class customer solutions is at the core of everything we do. For our developer community it’s even more important that we understand their unique needs and build partnerships that will help us achieve 100% zero carbon energy by 2030, catalyze economic development, and improve the quality of life for our customers and our community”
SMUD’s Commercial Development and Business Attraction team plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth and job creation in the Sacramento area, helping new construction projects leverage clean energy technologies that improve the environment and air quality. “It’s not just about electricity,” says Shari Little, the division’s director. “It’s about attracting new businesses to our community and helping existing businesses expand their footprint here by engaging with builders and developers at all stages of the construction process.”
Currently, the division has more than 250 projects in the pipeline, which represent thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in infrastructure investment. One of the largest is for Solidigm, an Intel spinoff that is now a subsidiary of South Korean semiconductor supplier SK hynix Inc. The company recently announced it will invest more than $1 billion in a new facility in Rancho Cordova that will employ more than 1,900 people at an average salary of $180,000. Power was a significant factor in the location of Solidigm. SMUD has been working with the Solidigm team to determine their power needs (estimated at 7.5 megawatts) and help the company navigate through the process with city and state agencies, community partners and relevant business associations.
Another project that the group is currently working on is the 1900-acre Metro Air Park property. After sitting vacant for decades, the area is now in active construction led by Buzz Oates and NorthPoint. More than 7 million square feet of industrial space is either completed or under construction, and Amazon, SC Johnson and Walmart are among the companies that already have or plan to have an active presence there.
“We found that builders and developers were frustrated when trying to navigate through utilities’ processes. They didn't know where to go or who to contact to do what they needed to do when it came to powering their projects and assessing their energy needs,” Lau says. “Our Commercial Development team was created as a ‘strike team’ of sorts to get in front of developers while they were still in the planning stages, often before permits were issued. What started with four small projects has now expanded into a major operation for SMUD, and we are already seeing significant results.”
For more information on SMUD’s Commercial Development and Business Attraction division, please visit smud.org/Build.
As the nation’s sixth-largest, community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity to Sacramento County for 75 years. SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies, and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment.
*According to SMUD.
