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

I was at a neighborhood meeting 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 community up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities cost effective access to regional community solar and to help industrial residential or commercial properties with energy effectiveness. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to make sure city residents were getting the same quantity of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally 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 individuals I required to connect 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 industry leaders and subjects related to accelerating a fair and simply shift to a sustainable energy economy. In acknowledgment 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 energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black female CEO in the neighborhood solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, providing customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to budget friendly solar energy, despite home type, and helping hard-working families lower 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 community solar movement. 36% of Black families experience a high energy concern, implying they spend over 6% of their income on house energy costs. 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 company?
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods affordable access to regional neighborhood solar and to assist commercial properties with energy effectiveness. WeSolar launched in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electricity consumers can acquire shared solar from a local job without needing to install any equipment in their houses. In turn, residents conserve hundreds on their electrical energy costs. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical energy need to come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a community that is already facing so lots of pressing difficulties, convincing them that there is another one simply as important is extremely hard. I keep in mind trying to discuss community solar to my friends and the discussion rapidly rotating to real estate.
Please show us a recent business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I wanted to guarantee city homeowners were receiving the very same quantity of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually historically been a middle-class problem 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 people I needed to link with in order to make this partnership successful.
For more information about WeSolar, check out wesolar.energy
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