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

I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. To be able to provide an item that will save our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities economical access to regional community solar and to help commercial properties with energy effectiveness. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to ensure city locals were receiving the exact same amount of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class concern 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 collaboration successful.

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 installation will feature market leaders and topics associated with speeding up an equitable and simply transition to a renewable resource economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member business are flourishing in the eco-friendly energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys first Black lady CEO in the community solar market. Under her management, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to affordable solar energy, despite house type, and assisting hard-working families reduce regular monthly expenses.
What inspired you to begin your company?
I was at a community conference with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. 36% of Black families experience a high energy problem, meaning they spend over 6% of their earnings on home energy expenses. To be able to provide an item that will save our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities cost effective access to local neighborhood solar and to assist commercial residential or commercial properties with energy performance. WeSolar released in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical power customers can acquire shared solar from a local project without having to set up any devices in their houses. In turn, locals conserve hundreds on their electrical power bills. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electricity must come from eco-friendly energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you deal with? Why?
To a neighborhood that is already facing numerous pushing challenges, persuading them that there is another one simply as important is really hard. I keep in mind attempting to discuss neighborhood solar to my friends and the conversation quickly rotating to housing. The reality of the matter is, institutional bigotry and oppression are larger than we know, and it drowns our community. Where Black individuals are not being invested in, we are being asked to focus on continuously for our survival.
Please show us a current business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to guarantee city locals were receiving the exact same quantity of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally been a middle-class issue due to the fact that 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 needed to connect with in order to make this partnership effective.
To find out more about WeSolar, check out wesolar.energy
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