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

I was at a neighborhood conference with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar movement. To be able to offer an item that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods cost effective access to local community solar and to assist commercial homes with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was launched, and I wanted to ensure city citizens were getting the exact same quantity of financial investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has traditionally been a middle-class problem since Black neighborhoods 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 link with in order to make this collaboration successful.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the first installation in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installation will feature industry leaders and topics related to 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 very first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member companies are flourishing in the renewable resource sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the nations very first Black female CEO in the community solar market. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, supplying consumers throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia access to cost effective solar power, no matter home type, and assisting hard-working families minimize regular monthly expenses.
What inspired you to begin your business?
The plain reality that the majority of homes who were receiving renewable resource incentives were greater income. I keep in mind learning this and thinking there needed to be a method to address this gap. I observed there was a problem. I had my own concepts on how to resolve it, and I wished to have firm over my own decisions. I was at a community conference with 50 Black women organizers who were not purchased the community solar movement. As soon as I began to explain how critical and urgent it was for us to be a part of the solar movement, it seemed like a lightbulb had turned on for me. I started demonstrating how higher-income communities and individuals in the suburbs were making the most of sustainable tax rewards and had actually received a heap of assistance. The truth is, energy usage effects Black family spending plans greatly. 36% of Black homes experience a high energy concern, implying they invest over 6% of their earnings on home energy bills. Thats a massive portion. To be able to provide a product that will save our neighborhood as much as 60% on their energy costs is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities affordable access to local neighborhood solar and to assist commercial properties with energy effectiveness. WeSolar launched in Baltimore and will broaden to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electrical power customers can acquire shared solar from a local project without needing to set up any equipment in their houses. In turn, residents save hundreds on their electrical energy expenses. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that specifies 50 percent of its electrical energy must come from renewable resource sources by 2030.
What obstacles do you deal with? Why?
To a community that is currently facing so many pushing challenges, encouraging them that there is another one simply as crucial is really hard. I remember trying to discuss community solar to my friends and the discussion rapidly pivoting to housing.
Please show us a current company success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I wanted to ensure city citizens were getting the exact same amount of investment as the county. Renewable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class problem due to the fact that 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 people I required to link with in order to make this collaboration effective.
To read more about WeSolar, see wesolar.energy
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