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 installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog series. Each installation will feature industry leaders and topics associated with accelerating an equitable and simply transition to a renewable resource economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog is the very first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member business are growing in the eco-friendly energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys first Black woman CEO in the neighborhood solar market. Under her management, WeSolar is growing quickly, supplying consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to economical solar energy, despite house type, and helping hard-working households minimize regular monthly expenses.
What inspired you to start your business?
I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. 36% of Black households experience a high energy concern, meaning they spend over 6% of their earnings on home energy bills. To be able to use an item that will save our community up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
Tell us about your company?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods budget-friendly access to regional neighborhood solar and to assist business residential or commercial properties with energy efficiency. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electrical energy should come from renewable energy sources by 2030.
What difficulties do you deal with? Why?
To a community that is already facing so many pushing challenges, encouraging them that there is another one simply as essential is very hard. I keep in mind attempting to explain community solar to my pals and the discussion quickly pivoting to real estate.
Please show us a recent company success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to ensure city residents were receiving the very same amount of investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has traditionally been a middle-class problem because Black communities have actually had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the individuals I needed to connect with in order to make this partnership effective.
To find out more about WeSolar, visit wesolar.energy
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I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. To be able to use a product that will save our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities budget-friendly access to regional neighborhood solar and to help industrial residential or commercial properties with energy performance. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I desired to make sure city citizens were getting the same quantity of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class issue since Black communities 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 needed to connect with in order to make this collaboration effective.