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 market. Under her management, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering customers across Maryland access to affordable solar energy, regardless of house type and assisting hard-working households lower monthly expenses
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What inspired you to begin your company?
The stark reality that the majority of families who were getting renewable resource rewards were greater income. I keep in mind learning this and believing there needed to be a method to resolve this space. I saw there was an issue, I had my own concepts to solve it and I wanted to have firm over my own choices. I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. When I began to explain how important and urgent it was for us to be a part of the solar movement, it felt like a lightbulb had turned on for me. I began demonstrating how greater earnings neighborhoods and individuals in the suburbs were making the most of this and received a load of support. The fact is, energy use impacts Black family spending plans significantly. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy concern, suggesting they invest over 6% of their earnings on home energy costs. Thats a huge percentage. To be able to use a product that will conserve our neighborhood approximately 60% on their energy costs is transformative
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Inform us about your company? (mission, partners, areas you operate in, main consumers, and so on).
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods inexpensive access to local community solar and to help business properties with energy performance. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electrical energy should come from eco-friendly energy sources by 2030
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What obstacles do you face? Why?
To a community that is currently facing so many pushing challenges, convincing them that there is another one just as crucial is very difficult. I remember trying to describe community solar to my buddies and the conversation quickly rotating to housing. The fact of the matter is, institutional bigotry and injustice is bigger than we understand and it drowns our community. Where Black individuals are not being invested in, we are being asked to prioritize constantly for our survival
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Please share with us a current company success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced and I wanted to ensure city residents were receiving the same quantity of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally been a middle class issue due to the fact that 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 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 first installment in our “Ask an Accelerate Member” blog site series. Each installation will include among ACOREs Accelerate member companies. August is National Black Business Month, so this month we are focused on Black-owned sustainable energy business

I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. To be able to offer a product that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative
.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget friendly access to local community solar and to assist business residential or commercial properties with energy effectiveness. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced and I desired to make sure city homeowners were getting the exact same amount of financial investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has actually historically been a middle class problem 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 connect with in order to make this partnership effective
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