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

I was at a community meeting with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. To be able to offer a product that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities cost effective access to regional community solar and to help business properties with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to guarantee city residents were getting the same quantity of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually historically been a middle-class concern due to the fact that Black neighborhoods have actually had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the individuals I needed to link with in order to make this partnership effective.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is pleased to share the very first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installment will include market leaders and topics related to speeding up an equitable and simply transition to a sustainable energy economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are prospering in the sustainable energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black female CEO in the community solar market. Under her management, WeSolar is growing rapidly, providing customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to budget-friendly solar energy, no matter house type, and helping hard-working families minimize regular monthly expenses.
What inspired you to begin your business?
I was at a community meeting with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy burden, implying they spend over 6% of their income on house energy costs. To be able to provide a product that will save our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities inexpensive access to regional neighborhood solar and to assist business residential or commercial properties with energy performance. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electricity must come from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a community that is already facing a lot of pressing challenges, encouraging them that there is another one just as important is extremely tough. I remember trying to discuss community solar to my good friends and the discussion quickly rotating to real estate. The truth of the matter is, institutional bigotry and oppression are bigger than we understand, and it drowns our community. Where Black individuals are not being invested in, we are being asked to focus on constantly for our survival.
Please show us a current company success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to guarantee city citizens were getting the very same quantity of financial investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has historically been a middle-class concern because 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 connect with in order to make this partnership effective.
To get more information about WeSolar, check out wesolar.energy
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