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

I was at a community conference with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. To be able to use a product that will save our community up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods cost effective access to local neighborhood solar and to help industrial residential or commercial properties with energy efficiency. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I wanted to ensure city homeowners were getting the exact same amount of investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class concern because Black neighborhoods have actually 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 link with in order to make this partnership successful.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is pleased to share the very first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installation will include market leaders and topics connected to speeding up a fair and just shift to an eco-friendly 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 sustainable energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys first Black woman CEO in the neighborhood solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, offering customers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to budget friendly solar energy, despite home type, and assisting hard-working families lower month-to-month expenses.
What inspired you to start your business?
I was at a community meeting with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy burden, implying they spend over 6% of their income on home energy costs. To be able to provide a product that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities inexpensive access to regional neighborhood solar and to help business residential or commercial properties with energy efficiency. WeSolar launched in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electricity customers can acquire shared solar from a regional task without needing to set up any devices in their homes. In turn, residents save hundreds on their electricity bills. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical energy should originate from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you deal with? Why?
To a community that is currently facing so lots of pushing obstacles, encouraging them that there is another one simply as important is extremely tough. I keep in mind attempting to describe neighborhood solar to my pals and the discussion quickly rotating to housing.
Please share with us a recent business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I desired to make sure city residents were receiving the very same amount of investment as the county. Renewable energy has actually historically been a middle-class issue due to the fact that Black neighborhoods have 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 collaboration successful.
To get more information about WeSolar, check out wesolar.energy
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