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 subjects connected to speeding up a fair and simply transition to a renewable resource 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 renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black female CEO in the neighborhood solar industry. Under her management, WeSolar is growing rapidly, offering customers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to cost effective solar power, no matter home type, and helping hard-working households reduce monthly costs.
What inspired you to start your company?
I was at a community meeting 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 income on home energy expenses. To be able to provide 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 communities budget-friendly access to regional neighborhood solar and to help industrial residential or commercial properties with energy effectiveness. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electricity must come from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a community that is currently facing so many pushing obstacles, persuading them that there is another one simply as important is really hard. I keep in mind attempting to explain community solar to my pals and the conversation quickly pivoting to real estate.
Please show us a recent business success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I desired to guarantee city homeowners were receiving the very same quantity of investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class problem due to the fact that Black communities 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 connect with in order to make this collaboration effective.
To learn more about WeSolar, see wesolar.energy
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I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. To be able to provide an item that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities cost effective access to regional neighborhood solar and to help industrial residential or commercial properties with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to guarantee city locals were receiving the very same quantity of financial investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has actually historically been a middle-class issue because Black neighborhoods have 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.