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 community solar motion. To be able to offer an item that will conserve our neighborhood up to 60% on their energy bills is transformative.
WeSolars mission is to bring under-resourced communities inexpensive access to local neighborhood solar and to assist business homes with energy effectiveness. When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was introduced, and I wanted to ensure city locals were getting the very same amount of investment as the county. Sustainable energy has traditionally been a middle-class concern since Black communities have actually had to live in survival mode, however 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.

By Constance ThompsonAugust 27, 2021
The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is delighted to share the first installment in our “Accelerating Renewables” blog site series. Each installation will feature market leaders and topics connected to speeding up an equitable and simply shift to a renewable resource economy. In recognition of National Black Business Month, our August blog site is the first in a series highlighting how Black-owned member business are growing in the sustainable energy sector.
Kristal Hansley is the Founder & & CEO of WeSolar, Inc and is the countrys very first Black woman CEO in the neighborhood solar industry. Under her leadership, WeSolar is growing rapidly, supplying customers across Maryland and the District of Columbia access to economical solar power, despite house type, and assisting hard-working households decrease monthly expenses.
What inspired you to start your business?
I was at a community meeting with 50 Black women organizers who were not invested in the neighborhood solar motion. 36% of Black families experience a high energy burden, meaning they spend over 6% of their earnings on house energy bills. To be able to use a product that will save our community up to 60% on their energy expenses is transformative.
Inform us about your company?
WeSolars objective is to bring under-resourced communities economical access to local community solar and to help business homes with energy performance. In Maryland, lawmakers passed legislation that states 50 percent of its electrical energy must come from sustainable energy sources by 2030.
What challenges do you face? Why?
To a community that is already facing so many pushing obstacles, encouraging them that there is another one simply as important is extremely challenging. I keep in mind attempting to explain neighborhood solar to my good friends and the conversation rapidly pivoting to real estate.
Please show us a current business success story.
When I initially moved to Baltimore, the Community Solar Pilot Program was released, and I wanted to ensure city residents were receiving the very same amount of financial investment as the county. Renewable energy has historically been a middle-class concern because Black neighborhoods have had to live in survival mode, however Reverend Mason and Reverend Dewitt brought me into the circle and linked me with the people I required to link with in order to make this collaboration effective.
To find out more about WeSolar, check out wesolar.energy
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