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 delighted to share the very first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installation will feature market leaders and subjects associated with accelerating a fair and just shift to a renewable energy economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the very 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 nations very first Black female CEO in the community solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, supplying consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to budget-friendly solar power, regardless of house type, and helping hard-working families decrease monthly costs.
What inspired you to begin your business?
I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. 36% of Black households experience a high energy burden, implying they spend over 6% of their earnings on house energy bills. To be able to use a product that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
Tell us about your company?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget friendly access to local community solar and to assist industrial homes with energy performance. WeSolar launched in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical energy consumers can purchase shared solar from a local project without having to set up any equipment in their houses. In turn, citizens save hundreds on their electrical power bills. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical energy need to originate from renewable resource sources by 2030.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
To a neighborhood that is already dealing with so numerous pressing difficulties, encouraging them that there is another one just as essential is very difficult. I keep in mind trying to describe community solar to my buddies and the conversation quickly rotating to housing.
Please share with us a current company success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I desired to ensure city citizens were receiving the very same amount of financial investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has actually historically been a middle-class issue 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 effective.
To get more information about WeSolar, visit wesolar.energy
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I was at a community conference with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. To be able to provide a product that will save our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities affordable access to local community solar and to help industrial properties with energy effectiveness. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to guarantee city homeowners were receiving the very same amount of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually 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 collaboration effective.