Megan Poage
For more than a decade, Megan Poage has been turning connection into impact through her work with AWWEE, building on a 15-year career in the energy industry.
An AWWEE member for over 12 years, Megan is an active contributor to the community, participating in The Exchange program, virtual and in-person events, and the biannual conference. Since 2022, she has also served on the Sacramento events planning team, helping shape thoughtful, locally relevant programming. Through these experiences, she has built lasting relationships across the water, energy, and environmental sectors—connections she credits as both professionally and personally transformative. A pivotal moment came when she presented at the 2019 conference, stepping outside her comfort zone and deepening her engagement with the community.
“AWWEE has been a space where I’ve been encouraged to grow while feeling genuinely supported,” Megan shares. “The relationships I've developed continue to influence how I show up in my life and my work.”
Megan is Vice President at Golden State Clean Energy, where she focuses on strategy and innovation at the intersection of energy, water, and infrastructure in California. Her work on the Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan reflects this cross-sector approach. The initiative aims to repurpose fallowed, water-constrained or drainage-impaired agricultural land for solar generation, storage, and transmission infrastructure—addressing land use needs while expanding clean energy access and supporting local economies. At full buildout, the project could span up to 136,000 acres and generate up to 20,000 megawatts of solar energy, while improving water efficiency, reducing dust pollution, and sustaining agricultural jobs.
She describes her role as highly collaborative, working across sectors to develop practical, scalable solutions to complex challenges.
Outside of work, Megan enjoys spending time with her family. As a mother of two young children, she continues to navigate the balance of a full-time career and family life. She especially loves time in Lake Tahoe—hiking, wake surfing, skiing, and soaking up the fresh, crisp air. She also draws inspiration from her late grandmother, Maryanne Ingemanson, a concert pianist turned real estate developer at a time when few women were in the field. A true pioneer, Maryanne’s grit, determination, and generosity continue to shape Megan’s perspective.
