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 installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installation will feature market leaders and subjects associated with speeding up a fair and just shift to a renewable resource economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member business are thriving in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys first Black woman CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, offering customers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to budget-friendly solar energy, regardless of home type, and helping hard-working households decrease regular monthly expenses.
What inspired you to start your business?
I was at a community conference with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. 36% of Black households experience a high energy concern, suggesting they spend over 6% of their earnings on home energy expenses. To be able to offer an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
Inform us about your business?
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods inexpensive access to regional community solar and to help commercial homes with energy performance. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that specifies 50 percent of its electrical energy must come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
What obstacles do you face? Why?
To a community that is currently facing numerous pressing difficulties, convincing them that there is another one just as crucial is very tough. I keep in mind trying to explain community solar to my friends and the discussion rapidly rotating to housing. The reality of the matter is, institutional racism and oppression are larger than we understand, and it drowns our neighborhood. Where Black people are not being bought, we are being asked to focus on continuously for our survival.
Please show us a current company success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I desired to ensure city residents were receiving the exact same quantity of investment as the county. Renewable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class problem since Black neighborhoods have actually had to live in survival mode, but 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 collaboration effective.
To learn more about WeSolar, visit wesolar.energy
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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 community up to 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods cost effective access to local neighborhood solar and to assist commercial properties with energy effectiveness. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I desired to guarantee city locals were getting the exact same quantity of investment as the county. Renewable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class concern because 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 people I needed to link with in order to make this collaboration successful.