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 site series. Each installation will include market leaders and topics connected to accelerating an equitable and just shift 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 companies are flourishing in the renewable resource sector.
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 management, WeSolar is growing rapidly, offering consumers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to budget-friendly solar power, regardless of house type, and helping hard-working families reduce monthly costs.
What inspired you to begin 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 households experience a high energy burden, indicating they spend over 6% of their earnings on home energy costs. To be able to provide an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
Tell us about your business?
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced neighborhoods inexpensive access to local community solar and to help commercial homes with energy effectiveness. WeSolar released in Baltimore and will expand to other cities in the future. Through WeSolar, electricity customers can buy shared solar from a regional task without needing to install any equipment in their houses. In turn, residents save hundreds on their electricity costs. In Maryland, legislators passed legislation that mentions 50 percent of its electrical energy need to come from renewable resource sources by 2030.
What challenges do you face? Why?
To a neighborhood that is already dealing with so lots of pressing difficulties, encouraging them that there is another one just as crucial is really challenging. I keep in mind attempting to discuss neighborhood solar to my good friends and the conversation quickly rotating to housing.
Please share with us a recent business success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I wanted to guarantee city locals were getting the very same amount of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has actually traditionally been a middle-class concern because Black neighborhoods have actually had to live in survival mode, but Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and connected me with the individuals I required to link with in order to make this partnership successful.
To read more about WeSolar, check out wesolar.energy
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I was at a community conference with 50 Black ladies 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 expenses is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities budget-friendly access to regional neighborhood solar and to help business properties with energy effectiveness. When I first moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I wanted to make sure city locals were getting the same amount of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has traditionally been a middle-class concern due to the fact that 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 people I needed to connect with in order to make this collaboration effective.