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

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 feature one of ACOREs Accelerate member business. August is National Black Business Month, so this month we are concentrated on Black-owned renewable energy business

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Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc. and is the nations first Black Woman CEO in the neighborhood solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, providing customers across Maryland access to cost effective solar power, no matter house type and helping hard-working households decrease monthly expenses
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What inspired you to start your business?
I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. I began showing how higher earnings communities and individuals in the suburbs were taking benefit of this and got a ton of assistance. To be able to offer a product that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative
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Tell us about your business? (mission, partners, areas you operate in, main consumers, and so on).
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities budget-friendly access to local neighborhood solar and to help business residential or commercial properties with energy effectiveness. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electrical energy should come from sustainable energy sources by 2030
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What obstacles do you deal with? Why?
To a neighborhood that is already dealing with numerous pushing challenges, convincing them that there is another one simply as crucial is really hard. I keep in mind trying to describe neighborhood solar to my buddies and the discussion quickly rotating to housing. The reality of the matter is, institutional bigotry and oppression is bigger than we understand and it drowns our community. Where Black individuals are not being purchased, we are being asked to focus on continuously for our survival
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I was at a community conference with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. To be able to use an item that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative
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WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget friendly access to regional neighborhood solar and to help industrial homes with energy effectiveness. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced and I desired to ensure city citizens were receiving the very same quantity of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has actually historically been a middle class concern since Black communities have actually had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the people I needed to connect with in order to make this partnership successful
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Please show us a current business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched and I desired to guarantee city locals were getting the same amount of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has actually historically been a middle class issue because 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 required to link with in order to make this partnership effective
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