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 neighborhood solar movement. To be able to use an item that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities cost effective access to local community solar and to help commercial homes with energy performance. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I desired to ensure city homeowners were receiving the same quantity of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has historically been a middle-class concern since Black neighborhoods have actually 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 partnership successful.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is pleased to share the very first installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installment will feature industry leaders and subjects connected to accelerating an equitable and just shift to a renewable resource 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 thriving in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the nations first Black lady CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, offering consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to cost effective solar energy, no matter house type, and helping hard-working households minimize month-to-month expenses.
What inspired you to start your business?
I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy burden, implying they spend over 6% of their earnings on home energy expenses. To be able to use an item that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
Inform us about your business?
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities cost effective access to local neighborhood solar and to help commercial properties with energy effectiveness. WeSolar released in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electricity consumers can acquire shared solar from a regional job without having to set up any devices in their homes. In turn, locals save hundreds on their electricity expenses. 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 face? Why?
To a neighborhood that is already dealing with so many pressing obstacles, persuading them that there is another one just as crucial is really challenging. I remember attempting to explain neighborhood solar to my friends and the conversation rapidly rotating to housing.
Please share with us a recent business success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to make sure city residents were receiving the exact same amount of financial investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has traditionally been a middle-class concern due to the fact that Black neighborhoods have had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the individuals I needed to connect with in order to make this collaboration effective.
To discover more about WeSolar, see wesolar.energy
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