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

I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. 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 communities budget friendly access to regional community solar and to help industrial residential or commercial properties with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I desired to make sure city homeowners were getting the very same quantity of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally been a middle-class problem due to the fact that Black communities have had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the people I needed to connect with in order to make this collaboration effective.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the very first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installment will include market leaders and topics related to accelerating an equitable and simply shift to a renewable resource economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the very first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member business are thriving in the eco-friendly energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black woman CEO in the community solar industry. Under her management, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to economical solar energy, despite home type, and helping hard-working households reduce regular monthly expenditures.
What inspired you to start your business?
I was at a community meeting with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. 36% of Black families experience a high energy problem, indicating they spend over 6% of their earnings on house energy expenses. To be able to provide an item that will save our community up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities inexpensive access to regional neighborhood solar and to assist industrial residential or commercial properties with energy performance. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical power need to come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you face? Why?
To a neighborhood that is already facing numerous pressing difficulties, encouraging them that there is another one just as important is very hard. I remember attempting to describe neighborhood solar to my buddies and the conversation rapidly pivoting to real estate. The fact of the matter is, institutional racism and oppression are bigger than we understand, and it drowns our community. Where Black individuals are not being bought, we are being asked to prioritize constantly for our survival.
Please share with us a current business success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to guarantee city locals were getting the exact same amount of investment as the county. Renewable energy has traditionally been a middle-class concern 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 needed to link with in order to make this partnership successful.
For more information about WeSolar, visit wesolar.energy
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