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 installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installment will feature 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 very first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member business are flourishing in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys first Black woman CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to affordable solar energy, no matter home type, and helping hard-working households decrease regular monthly costs.
What inspired you to begin your company?
The plain fact that the bulk of households who were receiving renewable energy incentives were greater earnings. I keep in mind discovering this and thinking there needed to be a way to address this space. I saw there was a problem. I had my own ideas on how to solve it, and I wanted to have company over my own choices. I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not purchased the neighborhood solar movement. As soon as I started to explain how critical and urgent it was for us to be a part of the solar motion, it felt like a lightbulb had actually turned on for me. I started showing how higher-income neighborhoods and people in the residential areas were taking benefit of eco-friendly tax incentives and had actually received a lot of support. The fact is, energy use effects Black household budgets greatly. 36% of Black households experience a high energy concern, meaning they spend over 6% of their income on home energy bills. Thats a massive portion. To be able to use an item that will save our neighborhood as much as 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
Inform us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget-friendly access to local neighborhood solar and to help commercial homes with energy performance. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that specifies 50 percent of its electrical power should come from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a community that is currently dealing with numerous pressing difficulties, convincing them that there is another one simply as essential is extremely challenging. I keep in mind attempting to explain community solar to my good friends and the discussion rapidly pivoting to housing. The fact of the matter is, institutional bigotry and oppression are larger than we know, and it drowns our community. Where Black people are not being purchased, we are being asked to prioritize continuously 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 ensure city locals were receiving the very same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has historically been a middle-class issue since Black neighborhoods 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 required to link with in order to make this partnership successful.
To discover more about WeSolar, check out wesolar.energy
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I was at a community meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. To be able to use a product that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods cost effective access to local neighborhood solar and to assist business homes with energy performance. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to make sure city locals were getting the exact same quantity of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually historically been a middle-class concern 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 connected me with the individuals I needed to connect with in order to make this partnership effective.