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

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Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc. and is the nations very first Black Woman CEO in the community solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing quickly, offering consumers throughout Maryland access to budget friendly solar energy, regardless of house type and helping hard-working families minimize monthly costs
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What inspired you to start your company?
I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. I started revealing how greater earnings communities and people in the suburbs were taking benefit of this and received a heap of assistance. To be able to offer a product that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative
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Inform us about your business? (objective, partners, regions you run in, primary customers, etc.).
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities economical access to local neighborhood solar and to help business properties with energy effectiveness. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical power must come from eco-friendly energy sources by 2030
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What obstacles do you face? Why?
To a community that is already facing so many pressing difficulties, convincing them that there is another one just as important is really tough. I remember trying to explain community solar to my pals and the discussion quickly pivoting to housing.

I was at a neighborhood meeting with 50 Black females organizers who were not invested in the community solar motion. To be able to offer an item that will conserve our community up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative
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WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods economical access to local neighborhood solar and to assist commercial homes with energy efficiency. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced and I desired to make sure city locals were receiving the same quantity of investment as the county. Eco-friendly energy has traditionally been a middle class concern 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 partnership effective
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Please share with us a recent company success story.
When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released and I wanted to make sure city residents were receiving the very same quantity of financial investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle class concern due to the fact that Black communities have actually 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 link with in order to make this collaboration effective
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By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
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The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the very first installment in our “Ask an Accelerate Member” blog series. Each installation will include one of ACOREs Accelerate member business. August is National Black Business Month, so this month we are focused on Black-owned renewable resource companies