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

I was at a community conference with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. 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 communities affordable access to local neighborhood solar and to help commercial properties with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to make sure city residents were receiving the same quantity of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has traditionally been a middle-class concern 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 connected me with the individuals I required to connect with in order to make this partnership successful.

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 include market leaders and subjects related to speeding up a fair and simply shift to a renewable resource economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are prospering in the eco-friendly energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black woman CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, providing consumers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to cost effective solar energy, no matter house type, and assisting hard-working families reduce regular monthly expenditures.
What inspired you to start your business?
I was at a community meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy problem, implying they spend over 6% of their income on house energy costs. To be able to provide an item that will save our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
Inform us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities affordable access to local community solar and to assist business homes with energy efficiency. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electrical energy need to come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
To a neighborhood that is currently dealing with a lot of pressing obstacles, encouraging them that there is another one simply as crucial is very hard. I remember attempting to explain community solar to my friends and the conversation rapidly rotating to housing. The reality of the matter is, institutional bigotry and injustice are larger than we understand, and it drowns our community. Where Black individuals are not being invested in, we are being asked to focus on constantly for our survival.
Please share with us a recent business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to guarantee city citizens were getting the very same amount of investment as the county. Renewable energy has historically been a middle-class issue since 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 needed to link with in order to make this partnership effective.
To find out more about WeSolar, check out wesolar.energy
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