Renewable Power Perspectives Q&A with Kristal Hansley, Founder & CEO of WeSolar, Inc.
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Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc. and is the countrys first Black Woman CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering consumers across Maryland access to budget-friendly solar power, no matter home type and assisting hard-working families reduce monthly costs
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What inspired you to begin your business?
The plain reality that most of households who were receiving eco-friendly energy rewards were greater earnings. I keep in mind learning this and thinking there had to be a method to resolve this space. I discovered there was a problem, I had my own concepts to solve it and I wished to have agency over my own choices. I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. Once I began to explain how critical and immediate it was for us to be a part of the solar motion, it felt like a lightbulb had actually switched on for me. I started demonstrating how greater earnings communities and people in the residential areas were benefiting from this and received a load of support. The truth is, energy usage effects Black home spending plans greatly. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy burden, implying they invest over 6% of their earnings on home energy costs. Thats a huge percentage. To be able to provide an item that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative
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Inform us about your company? (objective, partners, regions you run in, main customers, etc.).
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities inexpensive access to regional community solar and to assist industrial homes with energy efficiency. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical energy must come from renewable energy sources by 2030
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What obstacles do you face? Why?
To a neighborhood that is currently dealing with so numerous pressing challenges, encouraging them that there is another one just as important is very challenging. I keep in mind attempting to describe neighborhood solar to my good friends and the discussion rapidly pivoting to real estate.
Please show us a current business success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced and I wanted to make sure city residents were getting the very same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually historically been a middle class concern because Black neighborhoods have had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the people I required to link with in order to make this collaboration successful
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I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. To be able to use a product that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative
.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities inexpensive access to regional neighborhood solar and to assist commercial residential or commercial properties with energy performance. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched and I wanted to guarantee city locals were receiving the exact same quantity of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has actually historically been a middle class problem because Black neighborhoods have actually had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the individuals I required to connect with in order to make this partnership successful
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By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
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The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is enjoyed share the first installment in our “Ask an Accelerate Member” blog site series. Each installment will include among ACOREs Accelerate member companies. August is National Black Business Month, so this month we are focused on Black-owned renewable resource business