Renewable Power Perspectives Q&A with Laura Zapata, Co-Founder of Clearloop
By Constance ThompsonSeptember 24, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is pleased to share the next installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series.
Each installment features industry leaders and subjects connected to accelerating an equitable and just shift to a renewable energy economy. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, our September features highlight how three Hispanic-owned Accelerate member companies are prospering in the renewable resource sector.
Today, we are including Clearloop, an Accelerate member company established by three Tennesseans who wish to make certain that the development and advantages of eco-friendly energy reach all communities around our nation equally, starting with the communities that have a history of getting left behind. Click on this link to get more information about Clearloops effect.
The following is a Q&A with Clearloop Co-Founder Laura Zapata and Constance Thompson, ACOREs Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs
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What inspired you to start your business?
Clearloop started as a concept that changed into a company. In the early days– even before we had picked the name– we were evaluating out the theory that more companies require to invest in tidying up the electrical power grid so those dollars can be spent improving the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is restricted. For me, as one of three founders, this company was motivated by the desire to bring clarity to a big problem with an easy solution. We wanted business to take climate action in the exact same neighborhood that welcomed my household as immigrants, and kept me going when things felt dark and the path was uncertain
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How can prospective partners work with you?
Were showing that you do not need to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase arrangement to assist build brand name brand-new solar jobs. Even huge business that have actually blazed a trail in renewable resource procurement are now faced with the truth that the biggest portion of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over decrease techniques or where decreases might not be immediate. That is where Clearloop comes in– were a brand-new tool for services little and huge to take tangible environment action today and help us decarbonize the grid in the locations that require it the many. We require more creative methods to assist tackle the environment crisis in such a way that purchases the locations where that dollar creates more economic opportunity and social movement for the communities where were developing. Were firm believers that the ecological, health, and economic benefits of clean energy financial investments need to reach all corners of our country and were trying to find partners who are ready to act
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Tell us about Clearloop?
Clearloop is a cleantech startup that partners with business of all sizes to help them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, tidy up the grid, and expand access to tidy energy by constructing brand-new solar tasks in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were pioneering putting a carbon worth on the construction of new solar capability thats measured in watts, not watt-hours, with a brand-new financing structure that allows a larger range of business to take part, while also being deliberate about the neighborhoods where were investing to attain a fair tidy energy future. We recently began on our very first utility-connected solar job in Jackson, Tennessee. As we grow, Clearloop will be focusing on Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta as we take on both unclean grids and economically distressed communities with our solar jobs
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What challenges do you face? Why?
Among the greatest difficulties for us, as a relatively new entrant in the clean energy and carbon markets, is making reliability with market leaders who may be used to doing things a specific method. Clearloop is challenging a few of the conventional methods in which brand-new solar advancements have been funded, and accentuating new geographies and equity, to reinsert carbon emissions reductions into the corporate procurement conversation. Im a true believer that our perspective from the middle of the country, and our lived experiences as creators from very various backgrounds, has brought into focus why we need more creative solutions to assist tidy up the grid. Weve been motivated by corporate partners like Intuit and Vista Equity Partners, as well as brands like Dropps and Hello Bello, whove purchased reclaiming their carbon footprint by helping us construct our extremely first solar job. Weve also had the excellent fortune of finding like-minded companies like ACORE who acknowledge the value of bringing varied point of views to cleaning up the grid and have actually built a program like Accelerate to ensure we have a seat at the table
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Clearloop began as a concept that changed into a business. In the early days– even prior to we had actually chosen on the name– we were checking out the theory that more business require to invest in cleaning up the electricity grid so those dollars can be spent boosting the economies in Middle America where access to tidy energy is limited. Clearloop is a cleantech start-up that partners with business of all sizes to assist them cut (or reclaim) their carbon footprint, clean up the grid, and broaden access to tidy energy by constructing new solar jobs in American communities otherwise getting left behind. Were proving that you dont require to be a Fortune 500 business with the capability to sign a power purchase arrangement to assist develop brand new solar jobs. Even huge companies that have led the way in sustainable energy procurement are now faced with the truth that the most significant chunk of their carbon footprint is in Scope 3, their value chain, where they might have little control over reduction techniques or where reductions might not be immediate.
To get more information about Clearloop, check out https://clearloop.us/.
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