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 pleased to share the first installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installation will feature industry leaders and subjects related to accelerating an equitable and just transition to a sustainable energy economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are thriving in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black female CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to affordable solar power, regardless of house type, and helping hard-working families decrease regular monthly costs.
What inspired you to begin your business?
I was at a community meeting with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. 36% of Black households experience a high energy problem, meaning they spend over 6% of their income on home energy expenses. To be able to use an item that will save our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
Inform us about your business?
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities budget friendly access to local neighborhood solar and to help industrial properties with energy effectiveness. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical energy must come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
To a community that is already facing so numerous pressing challenges, encouraging them that there is another one just as essential is really challenging. I keep in mind trying to describe community solar to my good friends and the discussion quickly pivoting to housing.
Please show us a current company success story.
A really personal success story for me is cultivating a partnership with Maryland United Baptist Missionary Convention, Inc. I grew up in a Baptist church in Brooklyn where my cousin was the pastor, and my mom was an organizer– community was stitched into my extremely being. When I initially relocated to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to ensure city homeowners were getting the exact same amount of investment as the county. It was the church that took me in, and the church that then supported my vision– bringing everything cycle. Renewable resource has actually historically been a middle-class issue since Black communities have actually needed 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 connect with in order to make this collaboration successful.
To get more information about WeSolar, visit wesolar.energy
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I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. To be able to use an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities inexpensive access to local neighborhood solar and to help business properties with energy performance. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I desired to make sure city residents were receiving the exact same amount of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally been a middle-class issue due to the fact that Black communities have actually had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the individuals I needed to connect with in order to make this collaboration effective.