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

I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. To be able to use an item that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods economical access to local community solar and to help commercial residential or commercial properties with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I wanted to make sure city locals were receiving the same amount of investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has historically been a middle-class issue since Black communities 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 partnership effective.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installment will feature market leaders and topics connected to accelerating an equitable and simply transition to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member business are growing in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black lady CEO in the community solar market. Under her management, WeSolar is growing rapidly, supplying customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to budget friendly solar energy, no matter house type, and assisting hard-working households reduce month-to-month costs.
What inspired you to begin your business?
The stark fact that the majority of families who were getting eco-friendly energy rewards were higher earnings. I keep in mind learning this and believing there had to be a method to address this space. I noticed there was an issue. I had my own concepts on how to resolve it, and I desired to have company over my own choices. I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not purchased the neighborhood solar movement. It felt like a lightbulb had turned on for me when I started to describe how vital and immediate it was for us to be a part of the solar motion. I began demonstrating how higher-income neighborhoods and people in the suburban areas were taking benefit of eco-friendly tax rewards and had gotten a lots of assistance. The fact is, energy use effects Black household budget plans considerably. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy burden, indicating they spend over 6% of their income on home energy expenses. Thats an enormous portion. To be able to offer an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods inexpensive access to regional neighborhood solar and to help commercial homes with energy efficiency. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that specifies 50 percent of its electricity should come from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
To a community that is already facing many pressing difficulties, encouraging them that there is another one just as crucial is really challenging. I remember attempting to explain neighborhood solar to my buddies and the discussion rapidly pivoting to housing. The fact of the matter is, institutional bigotry and oppression are bigger than we know, and it drowns our community. Where Black individuals are not being bought, we are being asked to prioritize continuously for our survival.
Please show us a current company success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to ensure city locals were receiving the same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class problem since Black communities have had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the people 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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