Renewable Power Perspectives Q&A with Kristal Hansley, Founder & CEO of WeSolar, Inc.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the very first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installment will feature market leaders and subjects related to speeding up a fair and just transition to a sustainable energy economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the very first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are flourishing in the renewable energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys first Black woman CEO in the community solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, supplying consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to economical solar energy, regardless of house type, and helping hard-working households lower regular monthly expenditures.
What inspired you to start your company?
The plain fact that the majority of families who were getting sustainable energy rewards were greater income. I remember discovering this and thinking there needed to be a method to resolve this space. I saw there was an issue. I had my own concepts on how to fix it, and I desired to have firm over my own decisions. I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. When I started to discuss how vital and immediate it was for us to be a part of the solar movement, it seemed like a lightbulb had actually switched on for me. I began revealing how higher-income neighborhoods and people in the suburbs were taking benefit of eco-friendly tax incentives and had actually received a lots of support. The reality is, energy use effects Black household spending plans significantly. 36% of Black families experience a high energy burden, indicating they invest over 6% of their earnings on house energy costs. Thats an enormous percentage. To be able to offer a product that will save our community as much as 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities economical access to regional community solar and to assist commercial homes with energy effectiveness. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that specifies 50 percent of its electrical energy must come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you deal with? Why?
To a community that is currently facing so many pressing challenges, encouraging them that there is another one just as essential is really challenging. I remember attempting to explain neighborhood solar to my buddies and the discussion rapidly pivoting to housing.
Please show us a current business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to ensure city citizens were receiving the same amount of investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has actually historically been a middle-class issue since Black neighborhoods have had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the people I required to link with in order to make this partnership successful.
To discover more about WeSolar, check out wesolar.energy
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I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. To be able to offer an item that will save our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget friendly access to regional community solar and to assist business homes with energy effectiveness. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I wanted to ensure city homeowners were receiving the same amount of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has traditionally been a middle-class concern due to the fact that Black communities have 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 link with in order to make this partnership successful.