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 neighborhood solar industry. Under her management, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering customers across Maryland access to inexpensive solar power, no matter home type and assisting hard-working families lower regular monthly costs
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What inspired you to start your business?
The stark truth that the majority of households who were receiving sustainable energy incentives were greater income. I remember learning this and thinking there needed to be a way to address this space. I noticed there was an issue, I had my own concepts to fix it and I desired to have company over my own decisions. I was at a community meeting with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not purchased the community solar movement. As soon as I began to describe how critical and immediate it was for us to be a part of the solar motion, it seemed like a lightbulb had turned on for me. I began showing how greater income communities and individuals in the suburban areas were taking advantage of this and received a lots of support. The truth is, energy use effects Black household budget plans significantly. 36% of Black households experience a high energy burden, indicating they spend over 6% of their income on house energy expenses. Thats an enormous percentage. To be able to use an item that will save our neighborhood approximately 60% on their energy bills is transformative
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Inform us about your business? (mission, partners, regions you run in, main consumers, etc.).
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods affordable access to local neighborhood solar and to help commercial residential or commercial properties with energy performance. WeSolar launched in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical power customers can acquire shared solar from a regional project without having to set up any equipment in their houses. In turn, locals conserve hundreds on their electrical power costs. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electrical energy should come from renewable energy sources by 2030
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What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a neighborhood that is currently dealing with so many pressing obstacles, convincing them that there is another one just as crucial is extremely difficult. I remember attempting to explain community solar to my pals and the discussion quickly rotating to real estate.
Please show us a current business success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched and I wanted to guarantee city citizens were getting the very same amount of investment as the county. Sustainable 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 connected me with the individuals I needed to link with in order to make this collaboration effective
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By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
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The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is enjoyed share the very first installment in our “Ask an Accelerate Member” blog site series. Each installation will feature one of ACOREs Accelerate member companies. August is National Black Business Month, so this month we are concentrated on Black-owned renewable resource business
I was at a community meeting with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. To be able to use an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative
.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget-friendly access to regional neighborhood solar and to help business properties with energy performance. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released and I wanted to ensure city homeowners were receiving the exact same quantity of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually historically been a middle class concern because Black neighborhoods have actually had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the people I needed to connect with in order to make this partnership effective
.