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 happy to share the first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installment will include market leaders and topics associated with accelerating a fair and just shift to an eco-friendly energy economy. In acknowledgment of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies 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 market. Under her management, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to cost effective solar energy, regardless of home type, and helping hard-working households decrease monthly costs.
What inspired you to start your company?
The plain reality that the bulk of homes who were getting renewable resource incentives were greater earnings. I keep in mind learning this and thinking there had to be a method to resolve this gap. I observed there was a problem. I had my own concepts on how to fix it, and I wanted to have company over my own choices. I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. Once I began to describe how important and urgent it was for us to be a part of the solar motion, it seemed like a lightbulb had switched on for me. I began revealing how higher-income communities and individuals in the suburban areas were making the most of sustainable tax incentives and had actually gotten a ton of assistance. The fact is, energy use effects Black household budget plans greatly. 36% of Black families experience a high energy concern, implying they spend over 6% of their earnings on house energy costs. Thats a massive percentage. To be able to provide a product that will conserve our community as much as 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
Inform us about your company?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods cost effective access to local neighborhood solar and to assist commercial properties with energy efficiency. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical energy need to come from eco-friendly energy sources by 2030.
What obstacles do you deal with? Why?
To a neighborhood that is already facing so many pressing difficulties, convincing them that there is another one simply as crucial is very tough. I keep in mind trying to discuss neighborhood solar to my pals and the conversation quickly rotating to real estate. The reality of the matter is, institutional bigotry and injustice are bigger than we understand, and it drowns our neighborhood. Where Black individuals are not being invested in, we are being asked to focus on continuously for our survival.
Please share with us a current business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to make sure city locals were getting the exact same quantity of investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has actually historically been a middle-class issue due to the fact that Black communities 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 connect with in order to make this partnership effective.
To read more about WeSolar, go to wesolar.energy
###

I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. To be able to offer an item that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods cost effective access to regional community solar and to help industrial 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 very same quantity of financial investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has traditionally been a middle-class issue since 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 people I required to connect with in order to make this collaboration effective.