Renewable Power Perspectives Q&A with Kristal Hansley, Founder & CEO of WeSolar, Inc.
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The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is happy to share the very first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installation will include market leaders and subjects related to accelerating an equitable and just shift to an eco-friendly energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the very first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are flourishing in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the nations first Black female CEO in the neighborhood solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, supplying consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to budget friendly solar energy, regardless of house type, and helping hard-working households reduce monthly expenditures.
What inspired you to begin your company?
The plain truth that most of families who were receiving renewable resource rewards were higher earnings. I keep in mind learning this and thinking there needed to be a way to resolve this gap. I saw there was an issue. I had my own ideas on how to solve it, and I wished to have firm over my own decisions. I was at a community meeting with 50 Black females organizers who were not purchased the neighborhood solar motion. Once I started to explain how critical and immediate it was for us to be a part of the solar motion, it felt like a lightbulb had switched on for me. I began revealing how higher-income neighborhoods and people in the suburbs were making the most of sustainable tax incentives and had received a lots of support. The truth is, energy usage impacts Black family spending plans greatly. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy burden, suggesting they invest over 6% of their earnings on home energy expenses. Thats a massive percentage. To be able to use an item that will conserve our neighborhood approximately 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
Inform us about your business?
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities cost effective access to regional community solar and to assist industrial residential or commercial properties with energy performance. WeSolar introduced in Baltimore and will expand to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical energy consumers can buy shared solar from a local job without having to set up any equipment in their houses. In turn, residents save hundreds on their electrical energy costs. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical power need to come from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
To a neighborhood that is currently facing so numerous pushing challenges, persuading them that there is another one simply as important is really difficult. I keep in mind attempting to describe community solar to my friends and the discussion rapidly pivoting to real estate.
Please show us a recent company success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to guarantee city locals were receiving the exact same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally been a middle-class problem since Black neighborhoods have had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the individuals I needed to connect with in order to make this partnership successful.
To read more about WeSolar, visit wesolar.energy
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I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. To be able to offer an item that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities inexpensive access to local community solar and to help industrial residential or commercial properties with energy efficiency. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I desired to make sure city residents were receiving the exact same amount of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has historically been a middle-class concern because Black communities have had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the people I required to link with in order to make this partnership effective.