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 pleased to share the first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installation will include market leaders and subjects connected to speeding up an equitable and just shift to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the very first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are growing in the sustainable energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the nations first Black woman CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to economical solar energy, no matter home type, and assisting hard-working households minimize month-to-month expenses.
What inspired you to begin your business?
I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy concern, indicating they invest over 6% of their earnings on house energy bills. To be able to provide a product that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
Tell us about your company?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods affordable access to local community solar and to help business residential or commercial properties with energy efficiency. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical power need to come from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What challenges do you deal with? Why?
To a community that is currently facing numerous pressing obstacles, persuading them that there is another one simply as crucial is really tough. I keep in mind attempting to discuss community solar to my pals and the conversation quickly pivoting to real estate. The truth of the matter is, institutional racism 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 prioritize continuously for our survival.
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 guarantee city homeowners were getting the same quantity of investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has actually historically 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 connected me with the individuals I required to link with in order to make this partnership effective.
For more information about WeSolar, go to wesolar.energy
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I was at a community meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. To be able to offer a product that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities affordable access to regional neighborhood solar and to help commercial homes with energy effectiveness. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I desired to ensure city citizens were receiving the exact same amount of investment as the county. Renewable energy has traditionally been a middle-class problem because 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 link with in order to make this collaboration effective.