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 very first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installment will feature market leaders and topics connected to speeding up a fair and simply shift to an eco-friendly energy economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member business are prospering in the sustainable energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the nations very first Black lady CEO in the community solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, offering customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to inexpensive solar power, despite house type, and helping hard-working families reduce monthly expenditures.
What inspired you to begin your company?
I was at a community meeting with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar movement. 36% of Black households experience a high energy concern, meaning they spend over 6% of their income on house energy bills. To be able to offer an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
Inform us about your business?
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods cost effective access to local community solar and to help commercial residential or commercial properties with energy performance. WeSolar released in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical power customers can purchase shared solar from a local task without needing to set up any devices in their houses. In turn, residents conserve hundreds on their electrical energy costs. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electrical power need to originate from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a community that is already dealing with so many pushing challenges, convincing them that there is another one just as essential is really tough. I remember attempting to explain community solar to my buddies and the discussion quickly pivoting 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 wanted to ensure city residents were getting the exact same quantity of investment as the county. Renewable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class problem because 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 partnership effective.
For more information about WeSolar, go to wesolar.energy
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I was at a community meeting with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. To be able to use an item that will save our community up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities affordable access to regional community solar and to assist industrial residential or commercial properties with energy effectiveness. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I desired to make sure city residents were getting the exact same quantity of investment as the county. Renewable energy has traditionally been a middle-class issue since Black neighborhoods have had to live in survival mode, however 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.